Archive of Our Own

The moment Yeosang always dreaded arrived on the first day of the new semester.

He knew that with the bigger auditorium came the bigger risk so he wasn’t looking forward to the psychology class that was an elective but recommended subject to students from every faculty. But since he passed three semesters already without hearing anyone who he shouldn’t hear in normal circumstances he was hopeful this year would be the same.

But that wasn’t the case.

He didn’t have many friends at uni, spent his time mostly alone which was a choice he made. The only person whose presence he accepted – okay, even liked – was Jongho’s, a junior of his, studying business management. When Yeosang’s second year in sociology started he got him as his new roommate and even though it was hard to break the ice, Jongho had this charm that made the older warm up to him and only after two months Yeosang found support in their friendship that helped him get through some of the worst exams of his life.

So it was completely natural that he sat alone in the auditorium after lunch, doodling in his notebook and wearing headphones without music playing.

Yeosang always preferred silence over talking or even music. It helped him think things through clearly without distraction but it also meant peace. When nobody talked to him he didn’t have to act in any way he didn’t want to and without the pressure to be polite in a conversation especially in one he didn’t wish to participate he could be himself.

That is the reason why he was unsure if he ever wanted to meet his soulmate.

Hearing everything the other person makes, starting from a little sigh to outright shouting when they are within a certain distance was something Yeosang could live without. And it didn’t matter if there were soundproofing walls between them or loud music or noise-cancelling headphones. Once your soulmate made a sound, you could hear it crystal clearly no matter what.

That is why Yeosang got startled the moment he heard his voice.

He looked at the long line his pen made in his notebook from the quick movement. Yeosang held back his breathing to avoid making any unnecessary noise that could sell him out before he got a good look on his soulmate. He moved slowly, raising his head in the direction of the main entrance down the auditorium. There was a group of girls piling in but no one else. He looked to the smaller entrance behind him on the left side, but found only another group of students laughing about something.

“–And guess what, it turns out, she was never there. The guy drunkenly gaslighted himself to believe he slept with her that night but she wasn’t even in town and when the girl came back all she was hearing was that she apparently slept with someone. God, he was so drunk to actually believe that shit”

As Yeosang looked the other way, the entrance on the right, he immediately found the group who just entered. Lucky for him, he sat on the other side of the auditorium so it didn’t stand out that he was looking at them. He also wasn’t the only person turning their head when they stepped in the auditorium.

If someone wanted to know who the 4 most popular people in their university were and asked Yeosang about it, he wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to list their names.

First off, Jeong Yunho. He was studying international relations, the major closest to sociology so he was the only person from their group that he actually got to know during a class in their first year. It didn’t build deep friendship, it was only practical for a group work they had to do and even though he was nice, helpful and encouraging during the class, he was pretty sure Yunho forgot his name already considering how many people he knew. Yeosang never saw him alone, whether he was walking down the corridors, sitting in a lecture hall or having lunch at the cafeteria. He was tall, handsome, extroverted, funny and kind, the full package, but he was also taken.

Song Mingi, his soulmate, was right next to him as they entered. Given their different majors – Mingi in law faculty – Yeosang never met the guy in person but he knew they were soulmates because in their first week of university everyone was talking about them finding each other in a busy corridor like in a k-drama. Popular even as individuals they quickly became the dream couple of the university, everyone admiring them whenever they passed by, wishing they were destined to a soulmate as perfect as they were to each other.

Behind them came Choi San. His smile was showing like any other time Yeosang saw him from afar. He didn’t know him but heard enough to know San was a cheerful, friendly and caring person. He was admired for being so dedicated to the major he chose which was special needs education. A great number of students were idolizing him, talking about how amazing he was to choose this path to help children and about how smart and hard-working he was not missing any classes and having clear, reliable notes that he didn’t mind sharing. He also got the looks with his short brown hair, thick eyebrows, wide shoulders and well-built body that made him desirable. He was also single and it wasn’t a rare sight for students to act flirtatious around him, even though he made it clear he wasn’t looking for relationships other than with his soulmate that was yet to be found.

San was looking at the last person to enter the auditorium, mouthing some words in his direction. Jung Wooyoung, a bit shorter than San, was walking with confidence, his hands in the air, clearly explaining something passionately. He turned his full attention to the former listening to what he had to say but shook his head soon after.

“No, I don’t think so. He was so genuine, you should’ve seen it when he got confronted and slapped about it. He really believed he slept with her and I think he still isn’t convinced that it didn’t happen and got slapped only because it was embarrassing for her. It’s pretty awkward nevertheless.”

Yeosang followed them with his gaze as they made their way to a group in the middle of the auditorium, looking at Wooyoung, how he moved his lips, barely taking any breaths between sentences, talking fast and talking a lot. Hearing everything he said despite one of the biggest auditoriums filled with students and his usually perfectly functioning noise-cancelling headphones was Yeosang’s worst fear he never knew he had.

The real problem wasn’t finding his soulmate, it was the fact that his soulmate was Wooyoung.

Yeosang as many others wondered a lot about what kind of person would be destined to him. He wanted to believe that the person would also be calm, quiet, reserved, someone with whom their relationship would be peaceful and caring without any drama.

Wooyoung was nothing like his imagined soulmate and their relationship seemed doomed already.

Of course, he didn’t know Wooyoung, never talked to him, only saw him a few times from afar, but he knew one thing and another about him through Jongho, who was on good terms with him.

He was a marketing student – very fitting, if someone asked Yeosang, considering how much he talked – but he wasn’t near as dedicated to his studies as his friends were. From what he heard, Wooyoung was always only a bit above the border of passing exams and he was seen in parties and social gatherings twice as much as in the library. He usually attended classes in the first few weeks of the semester then missed one and never showed his face again if attendance wasn’t mandatory. In classes he made sure to max out the permitted number of absences every semester.

According to Jongho he wasn’t a bad guy though. He liked being the center of attention but always paid attention to everyone, he was funny, easy to talk to and to feel comfortable with. Even though he went to a lot of parties he rarely got drunk, rather he took care of his friends when they needed it. He was always happy to help and thrived on cheering someone up. That made their duo with San the strongest sunshine energy the world had ever seen.

But even knowing all of this about him didn’t make Yeosang feel at ease. He looked straight ahead at Wooyoung who was still talking – this time about a food delivery that got mixed up. He couldn’t wrap his head around this, how Wooyoung and Yeosang were supposed to be soulmates when they were so different. How could this relationship even work when Wooyoung was meant to be the center of attention and Yeosang enjoying his time alone.

But soon the professor closed the door behind himself and made his way to the center.

Yeosang could only hope that Wooyoung didn’t talk during classes.

*

Wooyoung kept his mouth shut— for the most part.

But when during the class he made a witty comment to San about something the professor was talking about it took Yeosang by surprise and before he could hold it back he let out a giggle followed by slapping his hand on his mouth immediately, glancing at Wooyoung who visibly froze in his seat. He catched him turning his head around, possibly trying to find the source and Yeosang dropped his hand, looking back in his notebook, pretending to write something when all he could feel was his heart beating in his throat as he looked down on the ruled pages.

He didn’t dare to look up as long as he didn’t hear Wooyoung say “No, I just thought I heard something”.

That was a close call that should not be repeated.

Yeosang very carefully let out his breath.

He knew it was impossible to hide from his soulmate, but he didn’t feel prepared to meet him properly, to spend time with him and most importantly to talk. To change his peace and quiet to listening to Wooyoung talk about everything and anything.

Yeosang felt a knot growing in his stomach with the thought of losing the life he’s used to. He couldn’t make himself seen – or rather heard – not at least until he talked to Jongho, who might say something reassuring about the situation. He couldn’t walk down to the boy and say he was his soulmate while waving goodbye to everything that he fought for during his first year.

But the next announcement from the professor didn’t make it any easier to hide from Wooyoung.

“As you might know if you read the syllabus I sent you last week, to pass this class you’ll need to work in a group of five, preparing a 15 minute presentation for the last few lectures and handing in a paper of 20 pages about an area of psychology that I’ll assign to each group. For this, you will be able to choose your own group and work with the people you prefer. Since there are only a few minutes left of the lecture, I will ask you to form your groups now and write your names and email addresses to these papers,” He lifted them in his hand then spread them out on his table so more people could gather around as soon as they were ready. “Once you write down your name you can leave. Thank you for your attention!”

Yeosang felt his throat closing up as he stared at the professor who was now turning back to his laptop to close the tabs he opened during class.

Forming groups meant talking. Talking meant making himself heard. It meant Wooyoung finding out he was his soulmate.

Yeosang put his head into his hands. He was doomed.

He took a few deep breaths – carefully so it could not be heard – then raised his head to look around the auditorium.

As expected everyone was talking to someone, noise rising more and more by the second. Some people were excited about the group work, more people were annoyed by it. He saw people hurrying up and down the stairs, cutting through groups. There were some students already at the front, filling out the sheets. He was looking for people sitting alone or people glancing his way to be their fifth member. As he was turning his head, his eyes met Yunho’s.

He turned his head back to the doodle at the corner of his notebook but that didn’t make the burning gaze disappear.

“Yeosang!”

He looked up to see Yunho smiling at him, waving with his hand. All his friends – including Wooyoung – looked in his direction as well.

“Join us?” The blonde boy had to shout to make himself heard, which was in a striking contrast to the clear sound when Wooyoung made an approved hum with a tight nod.

Yeosang only had to think about it a second before he realized that might be the best thing he could have ever asked for and started packing away his things to join the group.

Working with them meant speaking only in Wooyoung’s presence, which meant he could keep his soulmate identity hidden until he felt comfortable revealing it. It also meant getting to know Wooyoung better before acting on their soulmate bond and expecting big things like getting in a relationship and falling in love to happen.

As he made his way to them, Yunho stood up to welcome him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Guys, this is Yeosang, a sociology major I worked with in one of my classes last year,“ he said and tightened his grip on Yeosang’s shoulder as encouragement. “ Yeosang, this is San, Wooyoung and Mingi.”

Yeosang raised his hand a bit. “Hi.”

The others said it back and they got up from their seats. Yunho grabbed his bag then stood back next to Yeosang.

“Thanks for accepting the offer, I can’t wait to work in the same group with you again, last time was fun and you have great insights. I think the others are also eager to get to know you and work together with you,” he said, and Yeosang could only nod.

“Yes, of course,” San said right after with a big smile spreading his lips. “Let’s just hope we got an interesting topic. I heard last year there was a group that had to make a presentation about how advertising influences your grocery shopping habits. Ugh, I’d rather write 50 pages of anything else instead.”

“Speak for yourself,” Wooyoung cut in. “It’s actually really interesting how a well made ad can make you crave for something you’d never considered buying. Like I never thought I would try the caffeine-free coke because the caffeine in the coke is the nice extra that comes free, am I right? But one time last semester I stayed up late and saw this advertisement and I wanted to get a coke so much but didn’t want to stay up any later. So I went to the closest grocery store and decided to try the caffeine-free version which was basically the same and the day after I felt like I became a victim of capitalism. I felt so ashamed ”

Yeosang looked at Wooyoung with half amusement, half disbelief. He was meant to hear this man talking until the day they died. That was not how he imagined his life to be.

When they stood by the desk if front a few minutes later, it turned out Yunho didn’t just remembered Yeosang’s name and major but somehow he looked up his email address between his emails so when Yeosang wanted to fill out the sheet for himself, it was already taken care of, his full name and email were on the paper in Yunho’s handwriting.

The group agreed on creating a group chat that Yunho took care of right then and they also decided on meeting up 10 minutes before the next lecture, hoping they’ll have more information about what is expected in the paper and the presentation.

Yeosang got away without revealing the soulmate bond between him and Wooyoung. After leaving the building and looking around carefully the first thing he did was calling Jongho to find out if he was home. He was.

“Wooyoung is your soulmate?” He asked with his eyebrows high and a surprised smile spreading on his face once Yeosang told him what happened. They were facing each other on their own beds after Yeosang convinced the younger one it was more important than the game he was playing. “That’s actually genius, hyung. You’re like the two sides of a coin”

“That’s exactly what concerns me,” Yeosang said. “How am I supposed to keep my calm environment with him around? That’s impossible!”

Jongho only shrugged at that.

“I think that’s something you will work out eventually, otherwise you wouldn’t be soulmates. Trust the bond, hyung!”

Yeosang let himself fall down on his bed. Of course, it was easy for him to say since he didn’t find his soulmate yet. It probably was a sentence that Yeosang would’ve said yesterday if he was in a similar situation. But now seeing how different they were it was much harder to place his trust in the bond.

*

The inevitable happened only two days later when Yeosang was having lunch with Jongho in the cafeteria near the faculty of economics.

He was right in the middle of telling Jongho about a new professor he had in a lecture that day who was really young compared to his other professors but seemed more competent than most of them. It was a genuinely nice surprise. She was currently working on research in the area that Yeosang was interested in, which meant she could eventually help him find a topic for his thesis next year. So far she seemed smart and precise and the way she talked about it was captivating but not overwhelming. Yeosang was absorbed in the topic when Jongho stopped him, which got him surprised because that never happened.

“As much as I love hearing you talking about this professor, I don’t want you to face a situation you’re not ready for, hyung,” he said and with a curt nod in the direction of the cafeteria’s entrance he continued. “Wooyoung just arrived and looks like he saw a ghost. I think the cat’s out of the bag”

Yeosang immediately shut his mouth and risked a glance at the entrance. Just like the younger one said, Wooyoung was standing there, looking around, looking for something, for someone. Yeosang looked back at the food in front of him and put another bite in his mouth with a perfect facial composure even when his heart was beating abnormally fast and his stomach clenched in a tight knot.

He was good at this. He had practiced for a whole semester to look indifferent so people who cornered him because of his looks wouldn’t stick around for long. He learned quickly how to act polite but stay cold and that was the strongest filter and the easiest way to get rid of students that weren't actually interested in Yeosang. So far the only person who made it through this filter was Jongho.

“I still think that it wouldn’t be half that bad if you told him, though,” the boy in front of him added. “But I understand if you feel unprepared.”

Yeosang sent him a ghost of a thankful smile before going back to his statue-like expression.

It was more difficult to keep it that way, when Wooyoung started talking.

“Soulmate? Are you here?”

Yeosang swallowed before he took another bite, his hand trembling slightly.

“I stand in the doorway, I have a gray hoodie on and a bag on my shoulder, do you see me?”

Yeosang didn’t look.

Wooyoung waited a few moments before he continued.

“Can you say something, please? I need to know that you’re really here. We don’t have to do anything that you’re not ready for but can you please give me something so I know I’m not just imagining things?”

Yeosang swallowed again and was thinking really hard about how to reassure him without saying too much. Even his voice could give him away since they will actually work together in the next few weeks. However he was opening his mouth to whisper something about not being ready, when he heard Wooyoung again.

“Oh, hey, did you get lunch? Yeah, no, everything’s fine, it’s just– Nevermind. So what does the cafeteria offer today?”

Yeosang looked in the direction of Wooyoung, finding him in the company of two girls, smiling widely as usual. He let out a sigh quietly.

“I guess it’s my turn to speak now, huh?” Jongho asked as he also noticed that Wooyoung got distracted but was still present. “To use this chance, I have to tell you, hyung, you’re overthinking it. He’s one of the sweetest people I got to know in marketing. Yes, sometimes he’s overwhelming but only to a certain point. He knows boundaries better than some people you wouldn’t find overwhelming at first. If you ask me, once he’s head over heels for you, he will treat you like no one ever has. He’s popular because he’s really giving but since he doesn’t have anyone special to take care of, he tries to take care of everyone. You could be that someone for him, hyung.”

Yeosang continued to eat quietly, but let Jongho’s words get into his head. It made sense what the other said but if he had the chance, he wanted to get to know the other a bit more before revealing the bond so he could be more confident about it.

*

By the next lecture of psychology everyone received the email about the group work, the topic and the expectations about the paper and the presentation. Yeosang and his team were assigned to a wide area of psychology that was about group dynamics. Other than some mentioned phenomenon they had a small liberty to look into some part of it they might be interested in. San was really enthusiastic about it even through texts but even more in real life.

“I helped in this research not long ago where a group of children that didn’t know each other was left on their own devices in create their group dynamics. It was so fascinating how they worked it out, like choosing a leader without realizing it. That little girl had such a commanding presence it was no question, really” he explained with an enthusiastic expression on his face, “Anyway I saw that the professor pointed out that we should talk about the different types of leaders as well as the roles in a group and I would love to do that.”

“I was expecting you’d say this after we listened to you rambling about those kids for a whole semester,” Yunho laughed as he put a hand around Mingi’s shoulder to pull him closer. “We were also discussing things with Mingi and if it’s okay with you too, we want to do the part about group norms and rules and the stages of group forming because it probably has a strong connection with the norms and rules.” He looked at Yeosang and Wooyoung who only nodded.

“Alright, so Yeosang, did you have anything in mind you wanted to do?” Wooyoung asked as he opened the email, containing the rest of the points they had to cover for the paper.

“I don’t mind doing whatever,” he shrugged, but he didn’t want to seem so indifferent about work so he added: “The group polarization and the scapegoating must be interesting though.”

“I wanted to do the collective experience,” Wooyoung said. “But since these are all small phenomena, maybe we can cover the rest together.”

“That seems fair,” Yeosang nodded. “You can just choose what you want to do and I will do the rest.”

Wooyoung looked up from his phone to look at him.

“No, I meant we could do the research together. That way if you don’t feel like doing something after getting into it you can give it to me and vice versa. Half of these terms I’ve never even heard of. Like what is transference? Or focal conflict? I would have to read about it to judge if I’d like to do it or not.”

Yeosang looked at him for a moment.

“So you want to work on it together?”

“Yeah, if that’s alright.”

And it was alright with Yeosang. To be fair, he was expecting Wooyoung to try and stay out of the groupwork or doing a small part with minimal effort, maybe appear in the library during the semester once or twice, looking for a book in psychology. He didn’t think Wooyoung would not just put actual work in the assignment, but would willingly work together with someone he didn’t even know.

But somehow it also made sense and Yeosang felt bad to have prejudice about him freeloading. If he really was the kind of person Jongho painted him, of course he would participate in the group work and do his best for the cause. It wasn’t because he cared for the subject or his grade, it was because he cared for his teammates. Yeosang wanted to smile at the realization but fought through it, keeping his face expressionless.

“So when did you plan on doing it? If the presentations start on the 10th week we should have plenty of time to do the research and then put it together with the whole group, right? The guys probably wouldn’t want to work on it too close to the deadline so I guess we could get together sometime in the next 4 weeks or so and it should be fine” Wooyoung said.

“I wanted to do it on Thursday,” Yeosang replied simply.

“On Thursday?” the other asked back, dropping his chin, incredulous look in his eyes. “As in in 3 days?”

“Yes.”

“We have a whole semester to do that, you know. You want to do it already?”

“Why wait? If it’s done, you don’t have to worry about it. But if you change your mind and want to do it separately, you can tell me.”

“No, no, it’s okay. I don’t have anything on Thursday anyway,” Wooyoung said and Yeosang felt relief rushing through him, because after he offered to work together, Yeosang didn’t want to miss out on getting to know him, hopefully in a peaceful environment where he felt comfortable like the library. “So when do your classes end on Thursday?”

They agreed on meeting up at two in the afternoon in front of the building of social sciences to go to the library that most probably had books about group dynamics unlike the library in the economics building.

After discussing everything about the group work, Yeosang didn’t have the urge to go and find another seat for the class so he stayed put, right behind Yunho, next to Wooyoung and listened to the others’ conversation and found it oddly comfortable to be in their company.

*

Yeosang never really understood what people were talking about when they said it’s strange being away from your soulmate. He thought he did, he thought they were talking about simply missing the other party and because they were the person they meant to live their life with, the most important to them, it only made sense to feel their absences stronger than any other person’s.

He was hit by how wrong he was the days after the psychology class he sat next to Wooyoung.

He had an easy routine of getting up in the morning, going to university, have a coffee during the day, have lunch and after classes if he felt overwhelmed by the assignments and things to study he stayed in the library for an hour or two otherwise he went home to grab his gymbag to do some work out – preferably with Jongho – before they went back to their room to enjoy a chill evening.

But ever since Wooyoung sat next to him for two whole hours, he always found himself searching for the other. On Tuesday he told himself it was just precaution, he needed to know where Wooyoung was so he could talk comfortably or keep his mouth shut. On Wednesday though he felt a tinge of disappointment running through him every time he turned his head around on campus, in the cafeteria, in the bus stop but didn’t see him. And by the time Thursday finally rolled around he was up by six in the morning, ready to go to classes at seven, even though the first one started at nine.

He was excited to see him again. He wanted to see him again. Preferably not just see him but stay by his side for a few hours.

And when there were only hours left until their scheduled meeting, Yeosang had to focus to keep his mind from wandering during class. Because even if he knew it was natural to feel this way about your soulmate, he couldn’t stop thinking about how it would end. Enjoying Wooyoung’s company is one thing but not getting enough time alone for himself is another. Right now, he felt as if these feelings were only there because the bond was fresh and he was worried what would happen when he gave in to those desires to be with Wooyoung as much as possible.

But these concerns faded into dust as he saw Wooyoung heading down the path between buildings in his beanie, a bag hanging from his shoulder as always.

“Hey!”

“Hi!”

Wooyoung came to a halt in front of him, smiling gently and seeing that Yeosang didn’t even try to keep his stoic expression and let his mouth turn into a smile instead.

“You should smile more. It’s cute,” was what Wooyoung said after a moment.

Yeosang felt the heat creeping up on his neck so he quickly got rid of any emotion and cleared his throat.

“The library is on the second floor,” he said, turning around and heading to the door.

“I actually have never been in this building,” started Wooyoung a conversation as they passed through the door and turned towards the staircase. “Is this where most of your classes are?”

“Yes,” he replied, but felt it kind of awkward to leave it just like that. “Since it’s my fourth semester I know where I found everything, it’s nice.”

Wooyoung hummed as he acknowledged it but as they started to take the stairs they fell in a comfortable silence.

Entering the library he waved to the librarian who smiled at him and then they made their way to the desk Yeosang used every time it was free. It was in a secluded corner, next to a window so students could study in natural light which Yeosang always preferred. He put down his bag and gestured for Wooyoung to do the same.

“So, do you know where we should search for the psychology books?” he asked once he got rid of the bag and the jacket he was wearing.

“It’s two rows down from here,” Yeosang pointed in the direction and already started walking down the way with Wooyoung hot on his heels.

“Wow, I didn’t expect you to know,” he said, with surprise in his tone. “Do you come her often?”

“A few times a week,” Yeosang shrugged and soon turned between two shelves.

“A week?” Wooyoung sounded incredulous, and when the blonde stopped he looked at the shorter to see his face in pure disbelief. “That’s like– That’s way too much. How can you do that? I always found libraries boring and I only visit them during exam periods, because that’s the only place I feel forced to sit down.”

Why am I not surprised?, was what Yeosang thought, worry coming over him all of a sudden.

“So what are we looking for exactly?” Wooyoung eyed the shelf full of books.

“This must have something on group dynamics,” Yeosang reached for the largest book named Psychology, and placed it in his arms. “I think it’s mostly under social psychology so we can look for some textbooks about that as well. If you’re unsure if it will be useful just open it up at the table of contents and check the titles of the chapters. If it has something on group dynamics just bring it to the table.”

“Are you an expert at this?” Wooyoung asked and reached for a book that seemed useful, then he looked up at Yeosang with stars in his eyes. “Do you have to do this a lot? Like researches and stuff?

“I do, more than you’d think,” he said with a half-chuckle. It was a part of his major that was hard to get used to but eventually he became fond of it. “We have some methodology classes and each one of them requires research so we can try the methodology in a real situation. I guess you could say I’ve been through it a few times now.”

“That’s amazing, so you can do stuff like interviewing people about what they think of global warming?”

Yeosang looked at him with a little smile because he didn’t want to control himself when the other was so genuine about his admiration.

“On paper… Yes, I can.”

They continued their little chat as they were looking through various books, taking a bunch of them in their arms. Yeosang felt the worry he felt earlier disappearing slowly and a feeling of warmth and calmness came over him. It was so incredibly natural to talk to Wooyoung, who was listening to him asking about what he said, making a funny remark here and there. Even if they were in a library which was Yeosang’s sacred, quiet and peaceful place, it felt right to have Wooyoung by his side.

Once they had their arms full of books they made their way back to the table and sat down in front of each other. Yeosang explained to Wooyoung how to proceed now, with the chosen books so everything could be tracked back to the main source. He told him the importance of citation, because from what he saw the other never had to do this kind of research. He shared all the tips he found useful and once he covered everything they started going through the books, taking notes of what seemed important.

Another worry of Yeosang eased as they fell into silence, the only sound was the one the pages made as they turned them and the typing each of them did on their laptops. That meant it was possible for Wooyoung to concentrate on a task in silence without the need of distraction every once in a while. Yeosang looked up at him, taking in the sight of the boy running his eyes through the rows of a textbook, his brown bangs falling on his forehead and just before it could completely cover his eyes he ran a hand through it. Yeosang looked away then, pursuing his lips to avoid smiling at the action. It’s not like it was that big of a deal, but when Yeosang reminded himself that this man was his soulmate he felt lucky for the first time ever since their first encounter.

An hour passed as they did nothing but running through pages, taking notes and occasionally asking questions whether the other deemed a certain part important enough to write it down. Yeosang was deep in reading about scapegoatism and he pushed his fringe back before he moved his hand back to his laptop. After writing down a few sentences summarizing the phenomenon he glanced in the direction of Wooyoung.

To his surprise he wasn’t working anymore. In front of him there was a closed book as he watched Yeosang typing. He didn’t look away from the blonde’s face, not even when he raised an eyebrow.

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” Wooyoung shook his head and finally looked in front of him, putting the closed book to the finished pile. “I just realized now that you are probably the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.”

He managed to say it so casually that Yeosang didn’t even understand at first, just blinked that made the other chuckle. Soon enough though he was looking back to his book, wearing his stoic expression despite his racing heart.

“Have you finished?” he asked after a few seconds, deciding not to react to the other’s words.

“Not quite,” he sighed and he pushed his chair back so he could get up. “But I am desperately in need of a coffee right now. Do you usually take breaks?”

“No, I don't,” replied Yeosang easily. Once he set his mind to finish something, breaks were only good to prolong the time spent with studying instead of doing anything else.

“Well, do you want to take one now? Special occasion because I’m here? Don’t tell me you don’t want a coffee,” Wooyoung tilted his hips to the desk and was tracing patterns with his fingers on it.

A coffee did sound good and he didn’t have the chance yet to buy one that day so it was a tempting offer, but it made Yeosang's eyebrows furrow. Whenever he came to the library, he came here, got the work done and went home. He never considered having a break, going for coffee and relaxing a bit before getting back to his studies. Now that Wooyoung was here and asking him to do that was the first time he didn’t want to refuse the idea right away. It turned out pretty good how he and Wooyoung could work together and the prospect of talking more to the other as casually as how they talked during picking books – or even more – was really alluring.

“If you don’t want to I understand that but please let me go grab myself something with caffeine because I won’t be much of a use without it,” Wooyoung begged when he saw Yeosang thinking it over.

The corner of Yeosang’s mouth turned into a ghost of a smile at the memory of Wooyoung’s last rent on whether caffeine-free coke was worth it, and found himself fond of that memory even though he didn't really appreciate it at that time. As this recognition came to him he realized he wouldn’t mind hearing Wooyoung's other outbursts as well. And that was something that could not happen between the walls of the library where their minds were set on studying.

“It’s okay,” he said after a while. “We can go.”

“You’re coming?” he asked with a wide smile. “That’s perfect. Can you show me the way?”

Yeosang shut his book with a pen in it marking where he was and closed the laptop as well.

“So that’s why I need to go? To show the way?”

“Of course not,” Wooyoung waved his hands. “But it definitely is a perk. Do you usually go to the cafeteria or a nearby coffee shop? I don’t know about this building but if you ever crave coffee in the economics building don’t go to the cafeteria. They serve the worst coffee you have ever tasted. But there’s a cute little café down the main road. The place is cosy and the prices are reasonable. There is another one though that’s closer to uni in the other direction but that’s way overpriced and even their coffee isn’t that good. I can send it to you if you’d like. Oh right, would you mind giving me your number? It might come in handy regarding the group work and sharing great coffee tips as well.

It felt like opening a tap the way Wooyoung started talking as soon as he felt the permission to do that. As they walked out the library Yeosang was smiling slightly as he typed in his number to the other’s phone, even though they could find each other through the group chat. They took the stairs again and Yeosang led them to his favourite coffee shop.

*

“Have you found your soulmate yet?” Wooyoung asked unprompted in the coffeeshop once they got their orders.

Yeosang’s eyes widened for a moment but kept his composure and tried to look unfazed by the question. It probably didn’t work as well as he hoped it would because Wooyoung started apologizing.

“Sorry, was that too personal? You don’t have to answer if you’re not comfortable, it’s just– “ Wooyoung leaned back against his seat. “I actually heard my soulmate for the first time this year and they’re on campus and I wanted to make the connection with them to introduce myself but they didn’t answer me when I tried to reach out. It keeps bugging me and kinda makes me wonder what their motive might be to do that and I asked my friends and everyone came up with something but I also want to ask you if you have any idea about that. You know with your great social studies insights.”

If there was one thing Yeosang hadn't expected, this was it. Asked about why he didn’t answer but as if it was a third person. He felt shame overcoming him but couldn’t let it show. He had to make sure Wooyoung didn’t interpret it wrong, like it was something about him that made the soulmate reject him.

But another thing that took him by surprise was how easily Wooyoung opened up about his soulmate. People tend to treat this kind of rejection as taboo, not talking about it only with people they have absolute trust in. The fact that he shared this with his friends — Yeosang assumed it meant Yunho, Mingi and San — was normal but sharing it with a guy he met only three times was out of ordinary. Yeosang would have taken it seriously even if the soulmate in question hadn’t been him.

“There are a lot of people who got rejected and there are lots of reasons to do that, I can’t possibly tell you what it might be,” he said carefully, trying to stay objective, not getting into the topic more than he should. “But eventually most people work it out. Give them time, they’re probably not ready.”

Wooyoung sighed in defeat.

“I know I really should but patience was never my strongest suit. I’m eager to get to know them and I always thought it would be something like with Yunho and Mingi, hearing each other for the first time and looking for the other in that exact moment. From then onwards, they spent as much time together as they could getting to know one another. I wanted something like this and being rejected so easily, not even answering to me is upsetting. I want to understand why they wouldn’t like to get to know me. I’m also pretty sure they knew sooner that I was their soulmate than me.

Yeosang took a sip of his coffee, getting more difficult to keep his face from showing all the things he felt inside. Because what Wooyoung said he wanted was the exact opposite of what he imagined. He wanted to take it slow, meeting once or twice a week, getting used to each other instead of breathing down on each other’s neck. Maybe for the first time he got confirmation that not telling Wooyoung right away was a good decision because like this he could control how much time he spent with him. That didn’t make him feel less awful though thinking about how he hurt Wooyoung.

“They might have a life that would fall apart if they met their soulmate,” Yeosang tried to console the other. “Or they might feel like they would lose something important if they started getting to know you.”

Wooyoung looked puzzled for a moment, then he put his chin in his hand.

“What kind of thing would they lose getting to know me?”

Yeosang felt trapped, because if he started to tell him the truth it would uncover him quickly and would end up telling everything that he’s not ready for. He had to think fast.

“Like what if they like the coffee in the cafeteria but they know you don’t so they want to enjoy it a bit longer before they go out with you to your coffeeshop?” Yeosang knew he was making a really sad point. Wooyoung looked like he’d burst out laughing any moment, but Yeosang tried to look serious.

“They could have the coffee from the cafeteria if they prefer that,” he said.

“But they don’t know that,” countered Yeosang and shook his head quickly. “That’s not the point anyway—“

“But it is the point,” Wooyoung cut in. “They don’t know so they could ask me if I’m alright with them drinking that awful coffee instead of assuming.”

“And what if the thing they’re fond of is something that seems existentially different from you?”

“Like what?” he asked, genuinely interested.

Like silence, like calmness, like peace. Having alone time, he thought but didn’t say it.

“Do you think they’re in a relationship?” asked Wooyoung after a few moments neither of them said anything.

Yeosang looked up to his eyes that were suddenly filled with understanding.

“They might be,” he nodded.

“Ah, that must be a horrible situation,” he said, putting his head in his palms. “And I’m here blaming it on them, I feel awful.”

“It’s not like you know it for sure” Yeosang tried to calm him, thinking about the inevitable time their bond will be revealed and wanted to minimize the number of lies. A single big one was more than enough. “I just wanted to give you an example, it could also be a very different motive.”

Wooyoung nodded slowly and emerged from his hands.

“Are you talking from experience? Did something similar happen to you too?”

Yeosang bit his lips.

“I guess you could say that” he nodded but said nothing else. Wooyoung, sensing him closing up about the topic, steered the conversation to a lighter direction. Yeosang was grateful for that.

He considered telling him right then and there. After Wooyoung opened up to him being curious but not prying about his soulmate he felt maybe they could work out something that would leave Yeosang enough time alone and Wooyoung enough time together. He understood now that Wooyoung being friendly and talkative and let’s face it, clingy, didn’t mean he wouldn’t respect his soulmate and his needs just to be around them.

But it wasn’t the right time.

For now he felt like every ten minutes he spent with him he learned something new about Wooyoung. Only that day he learned that even if he talked a lot it wasn’t overwhelming as he first thought, he was able to stay chill when circumstances required, he respected boundaries not prying about Yeosang’s private life and was genuine every step of the way.

So Yeosang decided he would give it one week. One week to get used to him better before he jumped headfirst into their soulmate bond.

*

They finished their research two hours later summarizing their notes and sending it to the group chat so the others could read it and it would be easier to find it once they were all ready to put the parts together and finalize their project.

They parted ways in front of the building given that they lived in different dorms. He felt like Wooyoung wanted to stall for a few minutes. He seemed like he hesitated about leaving. Yeosang on the other hand didn’t feel the same way. True, he wouldn’t exactly mind Wooyoung’s presence but he wanted to make sure he would still enjoy his time spent alone in his room or in the gym. That’s why he didn’t bend when Wooyoung was desperately trying to keep their conversation up so he wouldn’t have to leave so soon.

In the end he gave up and waved goodbye. Yeosang wondered if he was confused about not really knowing Yeosang but being pulled towards him like a magnet. Because he was sure that Wooyoung could feel the same attraction and probably the same lacking feeling that cornered Yeosang in the others' absence but without the simple explanation of them being soulmates it must have been perplexing.

That was the first time Yeosang fell asleep feeling uneasy because Monday and the psychology class seemed way too far and he wished he could see Wooyoung before that.

Maybe if he passed by the economics building he would catch a glance. Even from far enough so it wouldn’t feel like spying on him, listening to him talk. That way he could avoid making himself heard as well.

The next day he headed for the coffeeshop with this thought in mind. He was between classes, only half an hour to get coffee and go back. He liked to sit in the auditorium before the lecture started and go through the notes he wrote the last time, so when he noticed the small line to the counter he suppressed a groan and stopped behind the last person.

“Thought I might find you here,” said a familiar voice beside him startling Yeosang out of his thoughts. He was the next customer to order, if the other arrived only two minutes later the blonde would’ve been in deep trouble.

“Hi, Wooyoung,” he greeted him. “Were you looking for me?”

“Not exactly,” he shrugged. “I just wanted to have a coffee and I felt like coming here. Running into you is only an additional perk.”

“I see.”

Yeosang knew he didn’t come here for the coffee. It was at least twenty minutes away from the economics building by foot, no one would go out for coffee that far during classes. Even if he wasn’t serious about attendance it wouldn’t make sense to come here when he had his usual place much closer. But it made perfect sense if Wooyoung was struggling with the same feelings as Yeosang.

They placed their orders and even if it was running late, Yeosang conveniently forgot to mention his coffee was to go. Well– accidents happen.

“So, are you between classes?” Wooyoung asked as they pulled their chairs out to sit.

“Yes, I had a lecture about social history and have to be back in 15 minutes for social activism.”

“Not a long coffee break then, huh?” Yeosang nodded and Wooyoung looked disappointed. The blonde could share his sentiment. “Do you enjoy studying sociology? Like if you spend afternoons studying every week in the library without exams on our backs I could only hope you enjoy it.”

“I do. I find it interesting and studying it doesn’t consume as much energy as a lot of other subjects back in high school,” Yeosang explained and enjoyed the unwavering attention of Wooyoung.

“So you spend your free time studying willingly?” he asked with big eyes and Yeosang let out a huff.

“I have other interests,” he said but frowned when his tone came out more offended than he intended to.

Wooyoung grinned when the blonde pouted his lips unconsciously.

“No way, you do? Like what?”

“Like working out,” Yeosang pulled himself together, taking back the control on his face. “I go to the gym a few times a week with my roommate.”

“Oh, right, I noticed.”

“You noticed?” Yeosang lifted an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Wooyoung nodded enthusiastically. “Nice shoulders and arms. I wasn’t entirely convinced though that it wasn’t from lifting so many books in the library.”

Yeosang looked at the other a bit sceptical. Like anyone could gain the muscle mass he has by lifting some books.

“Okay, so you have working out. Anything else?”

“I like gaming.”

“What games?” Wooyoung asked curiously.

“All kinds, really. Lately, I’m into League and– please, don’t laugh,” Yeosang stopped looking up sheepishly.

“I won’t,” he promised.

“Goose Goose Duck.”

Wooyoung bit his lips to stop himself from smiling and started nodding slowly.

“Yep, that’s a decent game, completely understandable,” he assured Yeosang who looked proud because Wooyoung really didn’t laugh and was taking him seriously. “So is that everything? Or do you have other hobbies?”

“Oh, I usually skate once a week.”

Wooyoung’s eyes widened in surprise and amusement in under a millisecond at that.

“You skate? Since when?”

“I started when I was 11 or 12? In middle school. It’s something I really enjoy doing when I have to get my mind off of things. If you think too much you fall down your board, easy as that.”

“Wow, that’s really amazing, Yeosang,” Wooyoung exclaimed. “Can I– Can I go watch the next time you go? You must know so many tricks by now.”

“Yeah, sure, I’m going tomorrow morning actually. It’s in the park not that far from campus, they have a relatively small but nice skatepark. Come by if you’d like.”

“I will be there,” he said with a wide smile, but it disappeared in the next few moments. “Oh wait, tomorrow? I’m supposed to go to the movies with the guys, sorry, I probably won’t be able to make it.”

“That’s okay, you can come next week,” he reassured Wooyoung, but he frowned as he heard himself. He was giving away his most sacred time in the skatepark, where he went to get his mind off of everything and escape for a bit from reality. That also made him realize then that he didn’t check the time for a long while and as he looked up to the one hanging on the wall he took a sharp breath in.

“Are you late? Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,” Wooyoung said.

“It’s okay, I still have enough time but I should get going” Yeosang took his cup and started downing the coffee he also forgot about.

“Before you leave, I wanted to invite you to a party next Friday that two of my hyungs will host. They’re really sweet and Yunho, Mingi and San will be there too,” he explained as he stirred his coffee looking a bit shy. “It would be really nice if you could come too. So are you free?”

Yeosang placed down his empty cup and looked up hesitantly.

“I– I am free on next Friday but–” he felt bad refusing the other, especially because he would like nothing more than planning things with him so he could see him more than in class but this wasn’t the occasion he was hoping for. “Parties are not my thing. I don’t go to parties.”

“Oh,” this seemed to take Wooyoung by surprise as a sad emotion ran through his features. “Yeah, I understand.”

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay, really,” he smiled up at him and Yeosang returned it. “If you change your mind, text me, okay? And now go to class, I don’t want you to be late on my watch!”

“Yes, sir,” Yeosang said, mocking Wooyoung then he got up and took his jacket in his hand before waving goodbye to the other and heading out the door.

*

Being on the board felt like second nature to Yeosang. Even if he didn’t have as much time to skate as he used to have in high school he went out to the skatepark every Saturday morning. It wasn’t like the one back home, not even close, but it was enough to feel free, to practice the old tricks and just skate. Going to the skatepark felt like going home. He felt like a part of him belonged there.

“Hyung!”

Yeosang put down his foot and came to a halt when he just reached the path that led him to the skatepark. He turned around to see two of his favourite dongsaengs skating his way. They and their four other friends were regulars to the skatepark, trying tricks almost every time Yeosang came around. They were still going to a nearby high school in different years. These two were already in their last year alongside another one of their friends while the other three had a longer way to graduate.

“I thought you had finals coming up, what are you doing here?” he asked with his eyebrows lifted.

“Finals are easy but the trick you showed us last week was super cool and I want to learn that first” Jaehyun answered when he and his friend stopped right beside Yeosang. “And I was actually studying yesterday so I could come when you’d be here. Riwoo can be my witness.”

“Like he wouldn’t lie for you anytime anyplace,” he replied but without any bite. Those two boys were one of the most compatible duos he has ever seen.

“Hey, hyung, cut me some slack, please?” Riwoo furrowed his eyebrows offended. “But truth be told he really did study, as did I, so can you please teach us the trick?”

Yeosang couldn’t say no to Riwoo pleading with big puppy eyes even if he wanted to. Fortunately he didn’t want to.

Spending time in the skatepark so he could get away from his everyday problems didn’t mean he had to be alone. Talking about skating with people who skate was also something he missed on days he couldn’t come. When he started coming here he was mostly by himself, doing his own stuff until the day Jaehyun asked him whether he could do an easy trick he learnt back in middle school. Yeosang executed it perfectly and since that day he had 6 dongsaengs looking up to him and he didn’t mind it one bit. The boys were learning fast and mastering tricks every week.

Mentoring the kids he also had time for himself, doing his usual more advanced tricks and skating around the park. It was really nice to break away from the everyday duties.

When they arrived the other four were already on their boards, skating away.

“Hyung!” Sungho exclaimed. “Did they really convince you to teach us the trick?”

“We didn’t even need much convincing, hyung is too eager to show off anyway.”

“Speak for yourself, Jaehyun-ah, we all know you want to do this trick so you could flaunt your skills” Riwoo said.

“That’s enough now” he stopped the bickering. “Let me warm up first.”

He stepped to the edge of the closest bowl and pushed himself off. He smiled at the feeling and felt his mind getting lighter by each time he executed a trick. Soon he moved a bit further to the grind rail. He slided along a few times alternating the trick of how he would get on and off the rail. It might have been the fourth or fifth time when he lost balance.

“ –would’ve arrived way too early anyway.”

Yeosang was deep in his thoughts, shutting the world out but hearing the familiar voice he felt himself freeze in the worst possible moment in the air. Before he could correct it he fell down his board, down the railing and could only protect his face with his arms as he collided with the asphalt, letting out a shout.

He sat up as soon as possible. He looked around frightened but all he could see was his dongsaengs on their way to him, worried looks on their faces. No Wooyoung around.

For a moment he wondered if it was all inside his head, but he couldn’t risk it. He only nodded as he was asked if he was okay, but not saying a word until he could be sure Wooyoung wasn’t within hearing distance. Letting out a shout was already bad as it was.

“Yeosang?” he heard and when he looked up there was a disheveled looking Wooyoung standing at the edge of the bowl. “Yeosang!” he shouted, worry coloring his voice as he started running towards him.

The others gave space for him as he ended up on his knees next to Yeosang, grabbing his wrists carefully so he could size up his wounds.

“Where did you get hurt?” he asked, tugging back the sleeves on his hoodie. He hissed when he found a palm sized scrape, blood slowly trickling from it.

“You should disinfect that, hyung,” Sungho said.

“Leehan, do you have your first-aid kit with you?” Jaehyun asked and the younger one nodded, hurrying off to get it.

“I’m fine,” was all Yeosang said before he got up from the ground grimacing when he felt pain around his knee as well. “It’s nothing that hasn’t happened before, I’ll live.”

“You should still sit down for a minute, you’re probably still high on the adrenaline from the fall.” Wooyoung said.

Yeosang let them lead him out of the bowl to the closest bench. He sat down and as soon as Leehan arrived back, Wooyoung took the first-aid kit.

“I can do it myself,” Yeosang said with his eyebrows furrowed when Wooyoung didn’t hand it to him but started to take out the disinfectant, an ointment for scrapes and a band-aid big enough to cover the whole wound.

“I’m sure you can but why would you when I’m right here, happy to help?”

Yeosang didn’t answer.

Soon Yunho, Mingi and San arrived at the skatepark as well, confused as to what had happened until they found Wooyoung already treating Yeosang’s elbow.

“Are you okay?” Yunho asked, grimacing a bit at the size of the wound.

“It’s no big deal” Yeosang shook his head and felt a bit embarrassed by how all of them were witnessing him getting injured by skating. “If you knew me when I was in high school, you wouldn’t be this surprised. There wasn’t a single day I wasn’t wearing band-aids.”

“People would think after years of skating you wouldn’t fall this bad.”

“Mingi!” Yunho exclaimed in disbelief.

“I was joking,” he said, putting up his hands. ”Sorry.”

“It’s okay, I told you it’s nothing,” Yeosang said as he sighed. “Weren’t you supposed to be at the cinema though?”

“We actually are, but we arrived a bit early and Wooyoung insisted on saying hi since the park was close anyway,” explained San, then he looked at the watch on his wrist. “We aren’t really on time anymore however.”

“You can just go,” Wooyoung offered as he took the band-aid in his hand to remove the paper on its sticky side. “I’ll stay here with Yeosangie a bit and join you later.”

“You sure?” Yunho asked.

“Yeah, I wasn’t that interested anyway in the new spiderman movie but I know you are, Yunho-yah, so go!”

“Okay,” he nodded, then he looked at Yeosang. “Get well soon!”

He heard the others echoing him and he thanked them as he watched them leave.

“You can go with them, you know. I’m fine, and you already treated the wound. I think I came down from the adrenaline already because I feel really tired and I have the kids watching over me” nodded his head in their way. They were back at the bowl, sensing they weren’t needed here, but each one of them glanced in Yeosang’s way occasionally.

“Yeah, I know, but I’d like to stay.”

“I feel bad that you ditched your friends to stay with me,” Yeosang confessed, looking down at his hands.

Wooyoung stayed silent for a few moments.

“Do you– Do you mind me being here?” he asked in the end.

Yeosang raised his gaze to look at him.

“No,” he said without much thinking. He really didn’t mind.

“Then quit chasing me away! I made the choice to be here, I’m the one responsible for making the decision to spend time with you instead of the others. Gosh, I swear even the smartest people can be such a pain in the ass,” he blurted out and pinched his nose to calm down himself. He then looked up with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You know when I said I wanted to watch you at the skatepark I didn’t expect you to be sitting on a bench with a bruise on your elbow.”

“I can show you some trick if you’d like,” he said standing up, not backing away from the teasing.

Wooyoung grabbed his wrist and pulled on it while laughing.

“Sit back down, you idiot, you’re injured.”

“It never stopped me before,” Yeosand said with a shrug but sat back as Wooyoung asked him to.

It felt somehow oddly comfortable how Wooyoung was speaking to him so casually even when it hasn’t been two weeks since they got to know each other. It was easy to be around him, probably the easiest of all people he knew for only two weeks. And the care he showed for him made Yeosang’s heart flutter. And it mostly wasn’t about the actual wound-treating procedure but the fact he dropped everything to stay here with him to make sure he was okay and had everything he needed.

As they fell into a conversation Wooyoung didn’t mention the shout and Yeosang wasn’t going to be the one to bring it up. If the other thought he shouted so loud that he could hear it from wherever he was it was fine with the blonde. The air between them became easier every day, and he felt himself and Wooyoung ease up as well and for now it was enough. Dropping the soulmate bomb could wait another few days.

*

Yeosang never had such a dull Sunday as he had that week. He gamed with Jongho, revised some of the subjects he will have a test on the following week, went to work out and even tried to read his current book about societal norms but didn’t get satisfaction from any of that. Between the different activities he often unlocked his phone to stare at Wooyoung’s contact in it but never made the decision to get in touch with him. What would he say anyway?

So when Monday rolled around he finished his lunch under record time to get to the auditorium as soon as possible. He was heading down the corridor, wearing his headphones when out of nowhere he felt a body weighing him down by the shoulders.

“Yeosangie!”

He turned his head until he met Wooyoung’s wide smile right in front of him. It was probably the closest the two of them got to each other and Yeosang had to keep calm not to blush from head to toe when he looked into his excited eyes.

He reached for his headphones and placed it around his neck. He half expected Wooyoung to get off his shoulders but the other had no such plans. He adjusted his arms so only one of them curled around the blonde’s shoulders while he stepped next to him so they could continue their way to the auditorium.

It was more than twenty minutes until their class started. It was early even for Yeosang let alone for Wooyoung.

“How’s your elbow? Is it healing nicely?” he asked.

“Yeah, I guess,” Yeosang nodded curtly.

“And how’s your knee?”

Yeosang was about to answer when he stopped and looked at Wooyoung, confusion running through his features.

“What? You think I didn’t notice the limp on Saturday?” he grinned and Yeosang rolled his eyes letting out a sigh. “I was just trusting you to take care of it once you weren’t so embarrassed about your fall. So? I see that you’re not limping anymore.”

“My roommate got me an icepack when he saw the bruise. The bump went down yesterday, it’s only a bit greenish, but doesn’t hurt anymore,” he shrugged.

“Glad to hear that. Does that mean you’ll be back in the skatepark this Saturday?” Wooyoung asked with a hopeful look in his eyes. Yeosang felt the corner of his mouth curling when he realized how keen Wooyoung was to see him skating.

“Try and stop me,” he scoffed and they entered the door to the auditorium.

The twenty minutes flew by in what felt like seconds. Yeosang and Wooyoung sat down in their usual seats and they didn’t really notice the others arriving until the lecture started. They were deep in their light chat and occasional teasing from Wooyoung’s part. To Yeosang it seemed like as he felt more and more comfortable around Wooyoung the other flirted with him even more often but never to the point of making it awkward. Most of the time he laughed it off, enjoying the face Yeosang made – usually not in control of his expression – and the way his ears reddened.

The blonde also noticed how Wooyoung became touchy out of nowhere. Starting with how he draped on him in the corridor then kept his arms around his shoulders but even as they sat down his knee touched Yeosang’s thigh every now and then while his shoulders brushed his when Yeosang showed him a picture of how much damage he dealt in a ranked game in League on Sunday.

Even when the lecture started and they stopped talking, Wooyoung made sure a part of them always touched. Yeosang felt himself getting upset because it was harder than anything to focus on what the professor said when his heart fluttered constantly. His right arm was resting on the desk while Wooyoung placed his right beside his, touching from elbow almost to wrists while he was typing away much more than what Yeosang was able to. It was frustrating but what made it worse was that he felt like that touch was not enough. He felt like their skin was magnetic, a constant temptation to move closer to him.

During the class Yeosang questioned himself over and over again if it was worth it getting used to his presence more before revealing the soulmate bond.

*

The last time Yeosang ate at the cafeteria closest to the Economics Faculty he almost revealed himself to Wooyoung. Because of this he made a habit of refusing Jongho’s offer to have lunch together. It’s been two weeks since then but the younger one was yet to give up and on that Wednesday when it’s been two days since he’s last seen Wooyoung he gave in. He decided it was worth the risk if he could see him only for a minute or so.

But he wasn’t that lucky as they entered the cafeteria and stayed in line. He was running his eyes through the sea of students trying to catch the familiar brown hair and wide smile. He knew well he wasn’t there – he would have heard him – but to make sure he checked the hall again.

Jongho caught up on it quickly.

“He usually isn’t around on Wednesdays. We have a lecture together but it’s not the most important nor interesting one and he already missed it last week. I don’t think you will see him today.”

Yeosang felt a tad of relief and plenty of disappointment hearing that. Yes, it was nice to have lunch with Jongho after two weeks but they both knew it wasn’t the real reason why Yeosang came here.

“Should I have told you that? Maybe you would’ve come last week.” Jongho wondered.

“It’s fine, it was just lunch.” Yeosang shrugged. “We can have lunch any other day.”

Jongho nodded. They ate silently for a bit before Jongho looked up at him.

“You’ve been spending quite a lot of time together, hyung. Don’t you think you know him enough to trust him to give you space once you told him you’re soulmates? If you postpone it only because it’s hard to come clean after all this time, I’m here to remind you, it will never be easier. As a matter of fact, it will become even harder and possibly bite you in your ass if it gets revealed without your approval.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Yeosang bursted out more desperately than angry. “I know that, Jongho, I know that he could find it out at any moment and then I’m fucked. But it’s confusing as shit. I’ve been used to silence since forever. I never talked a lot, never had big friend groups and never really cared for any kind of social activities. Then out of the blue it turns out my soulmate is the exact opposite and before I knew it I enjoyed listening to him talk about random shit. And not just that but— he makes me laugh, he makes me blush and he makes me talk, Jongho!.

“You’re talking to me too, though,” he said and he couldn’t hold back the smile listening to Yeosang’s outburst.

“Not that much,” Yeosang shook his head fondly. “And it’s not about you, it’s just—“

“Of course, it’s not about me, hyung, he’s your soulmate for god’s sake” Jongho let out a chuckle. “I’ll never compete with Wooyoung and you should quit comparing anyone to him as well.”

“I just— sometimes I feel like I’m not myself around him. I never talk that much and I never blush and I never laugh with someone I know for two weeks only. It’s all new and weird and it’s uncomfortable to think about when I’m alone. When I’m with him I feel like all my worries can disappear but when he’s away all I can think about is how it doesn’t feel like me at all.”

“What if this is the real you, though? What if you’ve never found anyone worthy enough to show them the real you but your soulmate? Have you thought about that yet, hyung?”

Yeosang hasn’t but he feels strangely insecure at the thought. Has he lived through two decades not being himself at all? That seemed very unlikely, right?

Jongho put down his chopsticks.

“So that’s what’s holding you back?”

“Yes,” he admitted, hanging his head low. “But I made a resolution to tell him this week. I won’t hold it out any longer and I just hope everything works out fine by then. I really don’t want to mess this up.”

“I’m sure you will work it out, hyung. I understand how scary that might be—”

“I’m starving right now, have you eaten yet?”

Yeosang’s eyes went wide when he recognized the voice through the murmur of the busy cafeteria. He almost dropped his chopsticks and grabbed Jongho’s hand who stopped mid-sentence to look up at Yeosang.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll just check out if there’s anything interesting. See you after class?”

“Is that Wooyoung?” Jongho asked and Yeosang nodded. “Do you think he heard you?”

Yeosang shrugged. He had no idea. It was so fucking close after Yeosang talked that it wouldn’t surprise him if he actually heard him speaking to Jongho. And that made him wonder why he didn’t try to initiate a conversation with Yeosang right after or ever since. As far as he was concerned it was only the second time Wooyoung heard him talking and since last time he was quite desperate to meet him. It would have only made sense if Wooyoung wanted to reach out to him again. But he didn’t.

The memory of them talking about possible motives to refuse talking to your soulmate flashed in front of his eyes as he saw the brown haired boy entering the cafeteria and taking a tray before going to the counter. Were Yeosang’s words so powerful that Wooyoung came over himself and stopped trying to initiate? Or did he really not hear him just now? He was confused and his heart beat in his throat when the other turned to look around the cafeteria to decide where to sit.

Their eyes met. Wooyoung smiled and started walking towards Yeosang.

Yeosang decided then that he couldn’t possibly hear him. If he had heard him, he definitely would have recognized his voice. It was impossible not to, when they talked so much during the past week. And if he had recognized it, he wouldn’t have smiled in such a heartwarming way that made the butterflies in his stomach wake up. He didn’t know, Yeosang was safe.

“God, you’re whipped,” Jongho murmured under his nose, digging into his food once again. Yeosang gave him a warning look.

“Hey!” Wooyoung said once he got to the table, eyes never leaving Yeosang. “Do you mind if I join?”

“Not at all, hyung, please, sit down,” Jongho said, earning Wooyoung’s attention who looked surprised, lifting his eyebrows.

“Jongho-yah? You two know each other?” he asked as he made his way around Yeosang to take the seat beside him.

“He’s my roommate,” the blonde said, noticing that this time Wooyoung didn’t spread his legs but crossed it under the table so there was no chance of their knees brushing against each other. He didn’t even know until Wooyoung got this close but he was aching for other’s touch. He hasn't seen him for two days now and it felt like he had withdrawal symptoms and all he wanted to do was to make up for the lost time.

“The roommate you’re gaming and going to the gym with? Yeah, that checks out,” Wooyoung said as he took a bite of his food.

“Aw, hyung, you’ve been talking about me?” Jongho asked with a cute pout on his lips.

“Only what was necessary,” Yeosang mumbled but that only made the younger one smile.

“So tell me, Jongho, what it’s like to be Yeosangie’s roommate?” putting his chin in his left hand while he used the right one to put another bite in his mouth. This way Yeosang didn’t have any chance to “accidentally” brush his arm against his but maybe if he asked for water Wooyoung would hand him the bottle lying on his tray and he could take it while making their fingers brush– Yeosang stopped right there, refusing to continue the train of thought.

“Oh, I believe it’s a really unique position that I take seriously. Tell me what you want to know, I have access to almost everything that hyung does in his free time and I’m happy to share.” Jongho grinned and Wooyoung reciprocated immediately, exchanging a mischievous look.

Yeosang tried to give him an annoyed look but the younger one either didn’t notice it or he didn’t care. Of course, Jongho wouldn’t sell out his secrets to anyone, he knew that much. He trusted him but he wasn’t sure where his boundaries stood about sharing his life with Wooyoung, who he knew was the soulmate of Yeosang’s. It shouldn’t be a problem, the blonde knew, but the glance they shared was mildly concerning.

“How long have you been his roommate?” Wooyoung asked.

“Since last semester, hyung.”

“So you must have seen him sleeping, am I right?” he asked excitedly and Jongho nodded. “I bet he looks even more ethereal, doesn’t he?”

Yeosang was right in the middle of munching on a bite but he froze mid chewing for a moment before he continued and swallowed it down. It was on another level that Wooyoung was flirting with him when someone was right there in front of them. He felt his ears warming up and he didn’t dare to look up from his plate.

“Oh, hyung, you have no idea! He looks like a real angel when he’s sleeping. But you know what’s even better than that?” he asked cunningly and Yeosang knew nothing good will come from this.

“What?”

“When he wakes up and has bedhair and his eyes aren’t fully open yet and the pillow left a mark on his cheeks. That’s hands down the cutest I’ve ever seen Sangie-hyung,” he said, ending it with a proud smile, because it made Wooyoung giggle. The older leaned back from the table, covering his mouth with his hand, looking at Yeosang with warm eyes.

“I’m not cute,” Yeosang said, crossing his arms in front of his chest, straightening up a little until his shoulder met Wooyoung’s. They sat quite close to each other so the brush was firm against their shoulders and he felt Wooyoung moving against him even more after the first touch. He wasn’t sure if that really happened but it didn’t even matter because it was so comforting to feel his body beside him that he almost lost track of the conversation, letting out a relieved sigh.

“Sure, whatever you say, hyung,” Jongho replied with an amused look, clearly noticing the way Yeosang’s body language changed. “So anyway, Wooyoung-hyung, I heard you’re working on some group dynamics stuff together, how’s that going?”

Yeosang didn’t look at him at first but when he felt a hand touching his thigh under the table and Wooyoung leaning against him with half of his weight, he turned to him. He was right there in front of him, a beaming smile sitting on his face.

“Aw, Yeosangie, you’ve been talking about me too?” he asked in a sweet voice that made the corner of Yeosang’s mouth twitch until he couldn’t fight down a soft smile.

“Only what was necessary,” he repeated himself but with a much softer tone, not being able to look away from Wooyoung’s sparkling eyes. “Stuff like despite your reputation you worked decently and were actually helpful,” he added.

“Oh my God, was that a compliment? I will take it as a compliment!” he turned to Jongho. “You heard it, right? He totally complimented me!

“He definitely did, hyung,” Jongho bursted out in a laugh.

Yeosang rolled his eyes but he felt more tender than annoyed. He let his arms fall to the table again so he could finish his meal. Wooyoung adjusted a bit as well, not leaning on him anymore, but he left his left hand on his thigh a comforting weight for Yeosang while he reached for his chopsticks again.

Wooyoung then bragged a little about how he was done for his part but the others weren’t and how they couldn’t move on until they finished their research first. Yeosang stayed silent, letting Wooyoung ride the wave of being on time for once in his life. Soon both Jongho and Yeosang finished up their meals and were waiting for Wooyoung.

“Mmm, this marinade is so good” he said once the conversation died down a bit. “You’d think after not being capable of making decent coffee, they wouldn’t cook well either but this is actually good,” he turned to Yeosang, squeezing his thigh for a moment. “Do you want to try?”

“Sure,” the blonde shrugged and reached for his chopsticks but once he had them in his hand Wooyoung was already lifting a bite towards him.

Yeosang glared at him expressionless and Wooyoung snickered.

“What? Are you shy?”

The blonde knew Wooyoung was playing, daring him to let him feed him but he was also too proud to back down. He put his chopsticks down and opened his mouth, signaling that he was ready and Wooyoung beamed while he lifted the bite to his mouth.

“There,” Wooyoung said gently. “Good, right?” Yeosang nodded and the other turned back to finish the rest of the meal.

Yeosang chewed on the piece of meat carefully and he glanced up to see Jongho’s expression. Like he expected his mouth was slightly ajar from the amusement but closed it as soon as he met Yeosang’s eyes. The younger one then smiled gently and took a sip of his water.

Yeosang didn’t get away with this only though. As soon as they finished their meal, Wooyoung went to the restroom before joining the class with Jongho – he decided it was worth another chance after finding out Jongho was there too. As they stood in the corridor, Jongho couldn’t keep it in any longer.

“I understand your worries, hyung, I really do,” he started, turning his whole body towards Yeosang, once he deemed Wooyoung out of hearing range. “But did you know you’re glowing when you’re with him? I’ve never seen you like this, but I think it’s beneficial for you. When you're with me you're usually like a really pretty flower you see next to the pavement. When you’re with him, you’re a whole garden of them. Please, let yourself be yourself!

He hated when Jongho used the fact that he had to stay silent to his advantage. He hated it but he also knew that the younger wouldn’t use this if he wasn’t entirely convinced of his right. Yeosang pushed the thought back, though, when Wooyoung exited the restroom.

“I just realized, Jongho-yah, you’ve been invited to Hongjoong-hyung’s party, right? Are you coming?”

“I am, why?” he answered, looking puzzled.

“What do you think about helping me convince this one that this is a party worth coming to?” he asked, putting a hand on Yeosang’s shoulder.

*

Eventually they did convince him.

Yeosang felt like his roommate and his soulmate were conspiring behind his back changing messages and making up plans, meanwhile all they had to do was wait for one day he didn’t see Wooyoung.

After their meals together on Wednesday Yeosang didn’t see Wooyoung either on Thursday or on Friday during the day so when he arrived back to the dorm feeling antsy the first thing he said to Jongho was:

“I’m coming to the party.”

Jongho took his earplugs out, sitting up on his bed.

“You are?”

“Yes.”

Then they fell into silence for a few moments until Jongho smirked at him knowingly.

“You miss him, don’t you?”

Yeosang didn’t bother answering him, he only took his towel to get into the bathroom. As he started getting ready to wash his hair he still heard Jongho’s laughter even through the closed door.

By the evening Yeosang was in his top form. His hair was fresh, blonde bangs hung loosely to his forehead. He put on more than his usual make up using eyeliner and a soft pink liptint in extra. His clothes were more thought out than the ones he usually wore to university. He had ripped baggy jeans on with a simple white shirt that was just a little tight on his shoulders. He put on a few necklaces as well as a few rings. He usually didn’t wear jewellery but this time he wanted to mix things up for the party.

They left around nine in the evening. Luckily the place wasn’t that far from the campus so it was only half an hour to get to the party.

“Are you sure this is going to be okay?” Jongho asked worriedly as they walked down the street. The house was already in sight.

“I’m nervous,” Yeosang said. “But I didn’t build up my image for nothing. If Wooyoung leaves my side I will just not talk to anyone. If it gets too uncomfortable I can leave anytime.”

“I can keep my eyes on you and answer for you in case it gets like that if you’d like” Jongho offered and Yeosang accepted it with a thankful smile. “But I also want to believe that he will stay true to his word and ‘make sure that you don’t feel lonely’.”

Yeosang nodded as he decided not to risk revealing the bond by speaking before he even gets to the party. They walked the rest of the way in silence and Jongho pressed the doorbell when they got to the door.

The guy opening the door was slightly taller than Yeosang. He had blonde hair that reached his ear on the sides and bleached eyebrows. His expression seemed strict at first but as soon as he looked at Jongho his face lit up, surrounding him in friendly energy.

“Jongho-yah, you made it!” he said happily and opened the door wider so they could go inside. “Hongjoong-ah, could you tell Wooyoung Jongho’s here?” he then waited a second and continued. “Oh, apparently he’s running. I didn’t know you were so important to Youngie.”

“The important one isn’t me Hwa-hyung,” he smiled mysteriously, but before they could continue their conversation Wooyoung appeared in a doorway inside the house.

“Yeosangie!” he exclaimed and started running towards him until the blonde caught him in his arms.

Hugging Wooyoung was new to Yeosang and to be fair hugging anyone at all wasn’t something that occurred often. But the way he leant against him with his whole body, trusting Yeosang to hold him was so heartwarming Yeosang didn’t think about how unusual this was for him. Wooyoung laid his head on him and it fit perfectly into the crook of his neck while his arms curled around his shoulders. Yeosang’s hands found their way around the other’s waist without much hesitation. He was so lost in the feeling of Wooyoung’s warm body against his he missed the way the blonde guy’s eyes widened with realization when San whispered something in his ear.

“I’m so glad you came,” Wooyoung said excitedly when he loosened his arms around Yeosang and straightened up. “I’ll make sure you have the time of your life here.”

“Yeah, I hope you’ll have fun tonight,” the host stepped closer. “I’ll take it, you're Jongho’s roommate? My name is Seonghwa, as far as I know I’m a year older than you but you can speak informally to me.”

“Thank you, hyung,” Yeosang nodded. “I’m Yeosang, nice to meet you.”

Seonghwa smiled at him before leading them in the kitchen.

“If you’d like to drink something, you can help yourself out,” he said, waving towards the bottles of alcohol on the counter. “You can find papercups right there.”

“Do you drink, hyung?” Jongho asked, reaching for the cups.

“Sure,” he said, accepting one from the younger.

“What’s your usual drink?” Wooyoung asked from his right, leaning against the counter.

“I don’t have a usual one” he said as he was debating what he should pour in his cup. “I don’t drink enough to have one. I rarely go out.”

“Do you want me to make something for you ?” he asked with a smile. Yeosang looked at him, and seeing how his eyes shone in an eager light he gave in and accepted the offer. “Would you like it rather sweet or rather bitter?”

“Maybe a bit both?”

“You got it!” he smiled and reached for one of the bottles already.

“So, Yeosang, I heard you study sociology? Why did you choose that?” Seonghwa asked so he turned around trusting Wooyoung with whatever he was making for him.

In a few words he summarized his decision then he used the first chance to steer away the conversation from him. During their time in the kitchen some people occasionally joined them, and then left soon enough. Meanwhile he learned about Seonghwa, how he was a currently graduating student in graphic design and how he wasn’t even planning on studying at this university at first. He and his parents were set to leave Korea after his last year in high school for Japan. Everything was organized, their flights were booked but just days before they left Seonghwa met his soulmate, Hongjoong – who was just a few rooms over, being in charge of the DJ. So after a discussion with his parents Seonghwa stayed in Korea, looking after their house – the one they were at at the moment – and applied for university here.

“I really wanted to go with them but it felt right to stay here,” Seonghwa explained. “Hongjoong had been offered an internship at KQ Entertainment so there was no chance he could come with me. Luckily he’s still interning there so it would have been a mistake to leave out an opportunity like that. Although it’s been more than two years since then they could have at least offered him a real employment contract.” he complained and then looked a bit lost in his thoughts before speaking again. “You know I’m right, they use your talent and they don’t even pay you properly— No, getting contacts in the industry doesn’t count as payment. Or do you think you can pay for your next ramyeon with a phone number?”

“Don’t mind him, they do this every damn time,” Wooyoung turned towards him, handing a full cup of something to him. Yeosang accepted and looked at the pink bubbly drink in his hand with a tad of doubt. “They’re like an old married couple, always bickering even when they’re in the middle of a conversation. It gets really annoying for a while but then you just get used to it.”

Soon enough he got to know Seonghwa’s soulmate as well. Hongjoong was around Wooyoung’s height and had short brown hair. He had to lean up a bit to give a kiss on the mouth to his soulmate before he introduced himself to Yeosang and started to make a drink for himself. Strangely it didn’t feel uncomfortable to have a conversation going like this with people he wasn’t familiar with. He didn’t actually talk, only those times when there was a question directed specifically at him but under normal circumstances even listening to a conversation made him uneasy. This time, however, with Wooyoung on his side, his elbow touching his forearm every now and then, it was manageable. Of course, the other wasn’t just listening, he was actively participating, making funny remarks and teasing his hyungs all the time with sly comments. Yeosang got so absorbed in the way Wooyoung acted around them he didn’t even notice when Jongho left the room for a few minutes. Once he was back he poked him in the arm and raised his eyebrow in question to make sure he was okay. Yeosang sent him a reassuring smile and the younger one nodded with a relaxed expression.

Then suddenly the music coming from the other room got louder.

“Aish, I told him not to turn up the volume” Hongjoong swore under his breath as he made his way out of the kitchen and when he reached the door to the living room he shouted. “Song Mingi, I told you what would happen if you turn up the volume! Get the hell away from my DJ set!”

After this Wooyoung turned to Yeosang.

“Do you want to check out the living room? Hongjoong-hyung is actually really talented and if I understood correctly he will take over now.” he said.

Yeosang looked down at the drink in his hand. It was halfway gone and it was much better than he anticipated. If he had to guess he would say it was gin & tonic with some kind of berry juice – maybe cranberry? – and it tasted amazing. But it didn’t show much effect on Yeosang for now and even if he got comfortable with the conversation, he wasn’t ready to dance. He didn’t know how to, he never had to, he hasn’t even been to a proper party before. He suddenly felt awkward at the thought and he hated the idea of dancing. He didn’t want to say it out loud though, not when he knew Wooyoung wanted to join the others in the living room.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to. We could go out in the garden?” Wooyoung offered when he saw Yeosang hesitating. “It’s much more peaceful than here.”

Hearing the word ‘peaceful’ form Wooyoung’s lips made Yeosang’s chest radiate of warmness. He wanted nothing more than to recharge with Wooyoung in a peaceful environment. He nodded with an enthusiastic smile and the other wasn’t a second late to return it.

“I’ll be in the living room if you need me, hyung,” Jongho said, sensing that this was an offer for Yeosang only. The blonde thanked him before moving out of the kitchen after Wooyoung who grabbed a bottle of soju as he made his way through a back door that led to a terrace in the garden.

“Follow me,” Wooyoung said once they closed the door. They turned at the corner of the house and made their way beside the wall until the other stopped under a window. The music that came through it was softer but clearer than in the kitchen. “Here we can enjoy both the chilly night and Hongjoong-hyung’s set. You can sit down or whatever.”

Yeosang decided to lean against the wall while Wooyoung was in front of him, body moving to the rhythm of the music. He looked at him fondly, feeling content that the other was so free and careless around him, dancing with small movements. It made him loosen up more, making his leg move to the rhythm too even if he never really cared for music.

Wooyoung then started talking about how he met Hongjoong and soon after Seonghwa. He talked about how his friend group formed and it made Yeosang talk about how he and Jongho got closer last semester. One topic led to another and soon they were talking about anything that came up while the drinks in their hands ran out. Wooyoung opened the soju and they took turns sipping from the bottle.

Yeosang felt the first signs of alcohol when he stumbled over a few words telling a story about him and Jongho when they tried volunteering. He saw the way Wooyoung chuckled at that but he didn’t mention it, just focused on whatever Yeosang wanted to share with him. He also realized he wasn’t the only one getting tipsy when he looked into Wooyoung’s eyes and saw how the other got lost in his thoughts more often and more easily.

Soon both of them got tired enough to crouch down against the wall. They finished up the soju and placed the bottle next to their empty cups. Yeosang had one leg bent, the other laying on the grass and he glanced at Wooyoung when he placed his own leg right next to his, jeans touching from their knees to their feet.

As they talked, Yeosang felt the need to be even closer to Wooyoung. He adjusted himself in his seating position and made their elbows touch casually. It wasn’t much but only a few minutes passed before Wooyoung took it to the next level and leaned against his shoulders while he was laughing at a memory.

“San was so excited. He had been an ARMY almost since their debut so when he saw the post about BTS' comeback he literally came in the bathroom to tell me while I was in the shower!” he laughed, hiding his face in Yeosang’s shoulder for a moment before calming down a bit.

“I wouldn’t have pegged him as a fanboy to be honest.” Yeosang said.

“I know, he doesn’t look like it. But in reality he’s just a big softie. Do you know who his bias is?” Yeosang shook his head. “J-hope! If that doesn’t scream how soft he is then nothing does.”

“I guess you’re right,” the blonde agreed.

After that they fell into a comfortable silence. The music from inside could still be heard but none of them was moving anymore. They leaned against each other, their sides touching from shoulder to ankle and Yeosang felt that this was how it was supposed to be: Him being next to Wooyoung for this moment and every other that was yet to come just existing side by side.

Lost in his thoughts he remembered Jongho’s words from the cafeteria. What if this was the real him? It definitely didn’t feel like he was acting in any other way but naturally with Wooyoung. Being with him didn’t tire him out like being with other people. Ever since he knew him it never felt like Wooyoung was dragging him down or he had to use extra energy to spend time with him. Everything came instinctively when he was with him.

He faintly remembered something called the chameleon effect that he read about in high school. It was a subconscious tendency of mirroring people around us. Imitate their gestures, their mannerism, the way they speak. Since their conversation with Jongho he wondered if he unconsciously used this method to appear more likeable in front of Wooyoung. He was never a people pleaser but he might have done it when it was about his soulmate.

But that moment he knew he wasn’t just mirroring Wooyoung’s behaviour. If he did, it would weigh him down and drown his energy when all he ever felt after being with Wooyoung was that he was lighter than ever before and more satisfied than after spending time alone.

So it was official. Wooyoung was actually bringing the real him out of Yeosang. Someone that even the blonde was just beginning to get to know. It was new, it was a bit scary, but it was also so exciting to finally let himself be himself.

“Yeosang?” Wooyoung spoke up after a while.

“Hm?”

“What do you think about falling in love with someone that isn’t your soulmate?” he asked in a really low voice. Yeosang might not have been able to hear it if it wasn’t for their soulmate bond.

“Are you thinking about your soulmate?” he asked back, trying to avoid answering as he gulped nervously.

Wooyoung stayed quiet until Yeosang turned his head and he was already looking back at him. The moonlight reflected in his dark hair and made his eyes sparkle. With their heads turning towards each other he felt like they were closer than before. His cologne reached Yeosang’s nose and made him feel even more tipsy than he already was. The only thing in his mind was that he needed more of Wooyoung.

“I’m thinking about you,” he whispered eventually.

Yeosang heard his blood running in his ears. Suddenly that was the only sound he heard, no music through the window, no faint laughter from the terrace. He felt that he wasn’t in control of his expressions anymore but he didn’t look away from Wooyoung’s deep eyes nevertheless. His throat started to close up but he swallowed hard and forced himself to say something.

“Did you– Did you fall for me?” he asked uncertainly, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer. He stared at Wooyoung with a glimpse of fear in his eyes. This was not what he planned at all. Wooyoung wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him before he even knew about their soulmate bond. It was wrong on so many different levels and the only one responsible was Yeosang. Yeosang, who felt he drank too much to properly deal with the situation.

But Yeosang felt his worries ease away at a rapid speed when Wooyoung smiled and lifted his hand to touch his face. He tucked a few longer bangs behind his ears, his eyes following the movement, then he placed his palm against his cheeks. Yeosang couldn’t even remember he asked something, let alone what he asked about.

“I think I did,” he confessed and looked back into the blonde’s eyes. “Ever since the time in the library I just can’t get you off my mind. It was confusing at first because I barely knew you. It made no sense that I was so attached to you after only one afternoon spent together. The day after that I went back to your coffeeplace to see you, actually, because I missed you. And over time these feelings only got stronger. I feel like I’m drawn to you whether we’re together or apart. I never felt like this with anyone before”

‘Of course he hasn’t, after all it’s his soulmate that he feels like this about,’ Yeosang thought and his head was spinning from Wooyoung’s heartfelt confession. It was too much, too fast and the blonde barely had time to comprehend everything.

“And please, tell me if I’m reading this wrong but this feeling is mutual, isn’t it?” he asked softly, his voice almost lost in the music. “You feel the same way, don’t you? I heard too much rumor about the unapproachable angel-faced sociology student to know he wouldn’t tolerate just anyone’s presence much less the teasing comments and almost constant skinship.”

He never expected Wooyoung to know this much, to put the pieces together and reach the right conclusion. He thought he could get away with the laughing, the blushing and the touches without drawing attention to the change in his behaviour but it was proved to be a naive thought.

Wooyoung’s fingers moved a bit lower, caressing his jawline.

“I know it’s a crazy idea to jump into something when you never even told me about your soulmate situation but I just can’t get you out of my head,” he said then his fingers came to a halt on his chin. Wooyoung’s thumb touched the corner of Yeosang’s mouth and he only realised his lips went dry when he ran his tongue over them unconsciously. Wooyoung’s eyes followed the small movement before looking up to his eyes. “And you look so fucking beautiful tonight, all I could think about this entire evening how badly I want to kiss you.”

Yeosang knew it was a bad idea. It was not fair to Wooyoung for the blonde to use this chance and kiss him while he doesn’t know he’s being deceived. Even if he wanted it so much, even if he also thought about how it would feel like to have Wooyoung’s lips on his own, it was not right. He had to tell everything to him before he delved into his desires anymore. All the touches and all the flirting could count as playful banter but this, a kiss, was serious. It was something that was meant to be shared in all honesty between soulmates, not causing another obstacle in their relationship that hasn’t even started yet.

“Can I kiss you?” Wooyoung asked after a while when Yeosang wasn’t saying anything to his confession. The blonde watched as the other’s gaze moved from his eyes to his mouth. His lips were burning from desire.

He had to say no. That was the only rational move to avoid fucking it up even more. If Wooyoung was already in love with him, not knowing it’s his soulmate he fell in love with, he deserved at least to share their first kiss knowing he does that with his soulmate. He had to pull away, to grab his wrists, to stop him by his chest. He had to do something but before he knew it Wooyoung was already closing the gap between them and his instincts were just screaming at him to let it happen. To give in to these desires and let Wooyoung kiss him.

He felt his breath on his mouth when he managed to get out a few words.

“Don’t kiss me,” he whispered and when he saw Wooyoung stopping and backing away only a bit he felt tears make their way down his cheek. He wanted the kiss so desperately and now the distance between them, which was only a few centimeters wider than before, burned his lungs. He wanted to close the gap and feel no air between them.

Wooyoung seeing his reaction didn’t move away. He lifted both his arms to frame Yeosang’s face from both sides and he pressed their foreheads together. Yeosang got in a stuttered breath, feeling like his lungs were working again.

“You okay?” Wooyoung asked more calmly than Yeosang would’ve expected after a rejection. He moved his thumbs in circles slowly on his cheeks and the blonde felt that with him still being so close it was easier to get his thoughts in order.

“I owe you an explanation,” he mumbled, looking everywhere but into his soulmate’s eyes.

“You don’t,” Wooyoung interjected.

“No, I really do,” Yeosang insisted and his hands grabbed on the other’s jeans to keep himself grounded. “I want you to kiss me but first I have to tell you everything.”

“Everything?”

“It’s long. And I should have told you sooner I just couldn’t find the courage. I didn’t want it to get out of hand but it already has. Right now, however, I think we’re not sober enough to have that conversation, at least I definitely am not.”

“So what do you suggest we do then?” Wooyoung asked, drying up Yeosang’s face now that there were no more tears in his eyes threatening to fall.

“I should leave,” he said and finally he had the strength to pull back. Wooyoung let him go easily. “I need to sleep this off. Tomorrow I will text you so we can meet up and explain everything to you.”

“Okay,” Wooyoung nodded and Yeosang looked up in his eyes. It was filled with understanding without any trace of disappointment or impatience. Wooyoung gave him as much time and space as he needed. It was both a relief and a burden because he did not deserve this treatment after everything.

“Okay,” Yeosang echoed and he pushed himself off the ground. “Could you please say thanks for Seonghwa-hyung and Hongjoong-hyung? I don’t think I have the energy to go back inside.”

“Of course, no worries.” Wooyoung said as he stood up as well, cleaning down his jeans with a few pats. “Get home safe, Yeosang! I will be waiting for your text tomorrow.”

Yeosang nodded and they looked into each other’s eyes for a moment. They were standing a few steps away from one another and they both felt the need to do something before saying goodbye. A kiss on the cheek, a hug, a stroke on the arm, a brief handholding, but it all seemed too much and not enough at the same time. It also might have been the first time the air was awkward between them.

Before the silence extended too much Yeosang ducked down his head, murmured a bye under his breath and made his feet moving towards the front of the house where he could get out to the street. He felt Wooyoung’s eyes on him until he made it out to the sidewalk and started walking down the road. He called a cab only once he couldn’t even see the house and sent a text to Jongho to let him know he left the party.

*

It was five in the morning but Yeosang couldn’t keep his eyes shut for more than half a minute. He was hugging a bodypillow to his chest and watched how Jongho’s chest moved slowly while he was sleeping. It wasn’t really interesting but it gave him a kind of comfort he craved for because his mind wasn’t about to let him have any peace.

He screwed up big time by letting Wooyoung catch feelings before revealing their bond. He couldn’t even imagine what the other went through the last two weeks of them knowing each other. First learning about your soulmate ignoring you then catching feelings for – in his point of view – someone else must not have been easy but he never even showed any sign of it. He just went along with them and was ready to act on said feelings yesterday, even though he must know he was destined to be with someone who he thought wasn’t Yeosang. It was confusing and the blonde was blaming himself because of it but somewhere deep down it also made him feel secure that Wooyoung would risk the love of his life to be with him. It meant he would choose him even if they weren’t destined to be each other’s.

When the clock on his night stand struck six o’clock he decided it wasn’t worth staying in bed trying to lull himself to sleep. Instead, he got up, got dressed and went to their small kitchen to drink two glasses of water and to make a sandwich for breakfast. Then he grabbed his skateboard and left their room so he wouldn’t disturb Jongho in his peaceful sleep.

The skatepark was empty – as it was expected ten minutes before seven on a Saturday. He started skating, gliding between obstacles then trying tricks on them. A few times he stumbled on a few advanced tricks because his mind was still running over everything that happened last night, but he always found his balance and so he didn’t end up falling like last time.

It was only a week ago, he realized. It definitely didn’t feel like it.

Around half past seven he sat down by the edge of the bowl, his legs swinging slightly. He took out the sandwich he made and started munching on it. He also grabbed his phone and opened Wooyoung’s contact, fingers slightly trembling over the keyboard before locking the screen and placing the device next to himself. He repeated this a few times but he didn't know how to proceed. Should he say sorry first? Should he thank him for understanding? Should he just ask when he’s free or is it better if he suggests a time and place? Wasn’t it still so early for this? If he stayed at the party longer than Yeosang he probably isn’t even up yet. Shouldn’t he give him a bit of time to gather his thoughts before bombarding him with meeting up?

“Fuck,” he sighed ultimately putting down his phone. He leaned on his knees with his elbows and placed his face in his palm trying to hide from the world. He groaned and felt himself closer to crying by the minute. “I can’t do this. I can’t.”

“Sure you can,” he heard right after.

Yeosang bolted up immediately, turning his head around in every direction but he saw only a few people walking or running in the park. No one was at the skatepark, no one stood beside him. It meant Wooyoung was near but not that near that he would hear him if they weren’t soulmates.

“It’s okay, Yeosang. Everything’s okay, don’t worry, I knew about the bond for a while and I’m not mad at you at all. I just want to apologize for last night and I’ll be out of your hair if you want that.”

The blonde felt his heart in his throat and his stomach clenched up both nervously and excitedly. He was still looking for him through the woods, now standing, but couldn’t see any sign of him there.

“Yeosang,” he heard Wooyoung’s pleading voice. “Please, Yeosang, can you sit down and let me know if you’re okay with me speaking to you like this?”

He was uncertain. He didn’t understand why Wooyoung would hide from him. He didn’t understand what he wanted to apologize for. He couldn’t wrap his head around the other consciously using the bond much less that it apparently wasn’t new to the other.

But he sat down again, facing the bowl, hands placed beside his thighs.

“I’m okay,” he said then in a powerless tone.

“Okay,” the other said, then Yeosang heard him as he took a shaky breath before spilling everything. “I’m so sorry, Yeosang, I made a big mistake yesterday and it was awful of me. I learnt that you are my soulmate a week ago now and I made the decision not to tell you so you could tell me in your own time. I knew you planned to do it, I knew you weren’t ready because of what you told me in the coffee shop. And please, believe me when I say I never wanted to play with you about this or prank you or anything. My only intention with not revealing our bond was that you could do it in your own time whenever you’re ready. It was enough for me to see you those times during the week we met and spend as much time with you as we had. I wasn’t trying to force you into something you weren’t ready for so I tried to leave you alone but whenever I met you by accident I couldn’t just walk away and I felt like you didn’t mind me being there so I used the chance to just be next to you. It was enough and I hoped you’d tell me about our bond sooner or later and until then it was enough.”

Wooyoung talked so fast he practically wasn’t even breathing between sentences and it made it difficult for Yeosang to comprehend everything. He did catch the main points though and it made his heart ache for the other man. Only if he knew how much he actually wanted him around, how much he enjoyed his company whenever they were together.

“But yesterday I didn't calculate with you dressing up and me drinking more than I should’ve. I think it was going really well at first. Us getting to know each other, you started to feel more comfortable around me. I could tell that from how your body language changed after we left the kitchen. It was clear that you were having fun and it made me proud that I was the one to achieve that. But then we got closer sitting on the ground and you were looking so dreamy– I don’t even know what you might have been thinking about but it made your face look more relaxed and settled than I have ever seen and– then the alcohol got to me and I know it was still me who acted and I’m the one responsible, but I want you to know that I never would have do that in my right mind. It was an awful thing to do and I regret doing it. I wanted to kiss you so badly I started playing my cards to get that without forcing you to reveal the bond. I acted like I didn’t know you were my soulmate and I deceived you into believing I have feelings for someone other than my soulmate and I probably made you feel guilty–” Wooyoung was forced to stop by a hiccup that left him. He sniffled once but still kept going in a higher voice as his throat closed up gradually. “I made you feel guilty and I never wanted to do that. You started crying and I felt awful because I made you feel awful–” Wooyoung stumbled over the last word as he started sobbing.

Yeosang stood up and started walking around the place. He went into the woods to check the other side of the trees as he started going around the skatepark in a wide circle so he could make sure he’d find Wooyoung if he was hiding behind a tree nearby.

“Not to mention–” he hicupped. “Not to mention the way I was forcing myself on you. Like I had any right to kiss you without your clear consent just because I was your soulmate. I was so needy and I was blinded by my desires and I know I will never forget the way you whispered those words because it haunted me in my dreams as well. And thank you for stopping me because honestly I don’t even know how I would live with myself right now if you didn’t.”

Yeosang found him as he hid his face in his hands, sobbing and barely catching his breath. He sat by the foot of a tree, wrapping his arms around his bent legs. Yeosang hurried over to him, kneeled down and wrapped his arms around him without a second thought. First Wooyoung froze at the touch, looking up at him with tear-streaked face but as he realized Yeosang was there to console him, he quickly unwrapped his arms to hug his soulmate’s waist tightly. He hid his face in the blonde’s chests and let out heartbreaking sobs.

“I’m sorry that I made you feel guilty when all I ever wanted for you to get comfortable with me. I made an awful job yesterday, didn’t I?” he forced out between sniffling.

“You didn’t,” Yeosang answered. Wooyoung’s arms loosened a bit as he looked up.

“I didn’t?” he asked back incredulously, his gaze sceptical.

“No,” Yeosang said firmly and he patted Wooyoung’s head a bit awkwardly. He wanted to console the other but had no idea how to. It seemed like it was working though, because Wooyoung blinked slowly every time he touched his head. “No, you didn’t. You kept yourself together and did what I needed you to do. You stopped but you stayed close until I was the one pulling away. And you never left my side during the entire evening.”

“Of course, I didn’t, if I had, you wouldn’t have been able to get a word out without revealing yourself,” he interjected. He sniffled again and wiped his nose with the sleeve of his hoodie. Yeosang wished he had a tissue but he didn’t count on consoling anyone when he left for the skatepark.

“What’s important is that you didn’t leave me. And thank you for that. Not just because of the soulmate bond but because I usually don’t do well in social situations but you made it easier, so– thank you,” Yeosang said and Wooyoung tightened his embrace.

“Anytime” he whispered into the blonde’s chest and he smiled as he adjusted himself and got more comfortable.

He wasn’t crying anymore, only sniffled occasionally, but Yeosang never stopped patting his head. It felt comforting for him as well to have something to do other than being the body Wooyoung can hold onto. They spent a few moments in a comfortable silence before Yeosang broke it.

“Why did you hide?”

Wooyoung looked up for a moment then placed his head back against Yeosang’s chest.

“I wanted to give you an out if you weren't ready to face me. I had to tell you how sorry I was to deceive you and make you feel guilty but I didn’t want you to move faster than you wanted to, so I was about to offer that we forget what happened here and we can go back casually meeting in uni like two friends or teammates or whatever. I can still offer you that if you’d like that.”

“No, I don’t want that,” he shook his head without any doubt.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Wooyoung said with a relieved smile.

They fell into another few moments of silence until Wooyoung slowly loosened his arms around Yeosang and patted the ground, signaling him to sit down by the tree next to him. The blonde did as he was told and soon they were sitting side by side with their arms linked and Wooyoung’s head on Yeosang’s shoulder.

It was time for Yeosang to come clean about why he didn’t tell Wooyoung he was his soulmate. The latter already had an idea about why he needed space before he revealed it and it only got confirmed when Yeosang told him about his initial worry of not having enough space.

“I promise I won’t breathe down your neck or be unnecessarily clingy,” he started. “We will need to work out the boundaries so I know when I can text you or call you or surprise you in your coffee shop. I’ll do my best to let you have your alone time. If you want I’ll just stand back and you can initiate when you feel like it or–”

“Wooyoung, stop,” Yeosang said firmly and it made the other fall silent immediately. “Yes, I thought I needed space but that’s not– Eventually it wasn’t why I didn’t tell you this week. I–” Yeosang took a deep breath trying to gather his thoughts to say everything that was needed to be said. “I’m not good at this at all, talking about my needs and my feelings. I will try to work on it but for now you need to know that it’s– That I realized this week that I want you– No, I need you by my side. I– I change when I’m with you, I talk and I laugh and I don’t want to leave and– First, I didn’t know why that was but yesterday I recognized that this was me being myself. Only when I’m with you can I be like this and I like being like this. Does that make sense?”

“Of course it does,” Wooyoung answered encouragingly.

“So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t want you to keep your distance. The days I didn’t see you this week were my worst days in months. Hell, I–” Yeosang felt as his ears warmed up but he pushed through his embarrassment and continued. “I went to the party yesterday only so I could see you.”

“You did?” Wooyoung lifted his head so he could look up at Yeosang. The blonde glanced his way and nodded briefly. Wooyoung hugged his arm closer and buried his smile in his shoulder. Yeosang felt his heartrate jump at seeing the other showing his feelings so openly. “Don’t worry then, I will make sure you have enough of me. Say goodbye to your lonely days!”

“Goodbye,” Yeosang said without missing a heartbeat and it made Wooyoung giggle. He laced their fingers together and laid it on the blonde’s thigh. “So how long have you known exactly?”

“Last Saturday. When you fell and shouted I heard it almost from the entrance of the park. It didn’t seem unusual at first, I just thought you shouted really loudly. Then when I met up with the others later in the cinema they told me they didn’t hear anything and then I put the pieces together. Like I told you yesterday I was drawn to you since we were at the library and it was easy to connect the dots once I had a hint.”

“So have you– Have you heard anything I said after that?” Yeosang asked.

“I heard a part of your conversation with Jongho from the cafeteria. It wasn’t clear because to get to the cafeteria I had to use corridors that led me out of range a few times but I could recognize your voice immediately.” Wooyoung smiled. “I remember you said nice things about me and how I make you talk and laugh and blush.”

Wooyoung was teasing him again and Yeosang already felt the corner of his mouth curling while he rolled his eyes.

“Look, it’s starting” he poked the blonde’s cheeks with his free hand. He laughed when Yeosang reached for his finger and dragged it away from his face. He let it fall down in their lap but he didn’t let go of Wooyoung’s hand completely. Instead, the latter started playing with their fingers before looking up at Yeosang again.

“So we’re good?”

“We are,” Yeosang answered and stared at the other’s sparkling eyes.

Then something in the light of Wooyoung’s gaze changed and it looked like he was holding back a giggle.

“What?” Yeosang asked confusedly.

Wooyoung dropped their hands that were playing and reached up to Yeosang’s left eye. “I didn’t know you had a birthmark,” he said and he caressed it with his fingers. “Do you cover it up often?”

“Usually, yes,” he nodded. “It’s easier to earn others’ respect if they think you’re flawless.”

“I don’t think it’s a flaw at all,” Wooyoung said with a serious face and then his fingers moved down to Yeosang’s chin to turn his head sideways a bit. Then he reached up and pressed a kiss on the birthmark.

Yeosang felt his breath stuck in his lungs for as long as Wooyoung kept his mouth on his skin. It might not have been that big of a deal but it surprised him and he felt it as his face warmed up by the touch. When Wooyoung leaned back in his sitting position he didn’t let him get away without a word. Instead, he leaned closer to his face like he was sharing a secret.

“Did you know your ears are glowing red?” he asked and then giggled after seeing Yeosang’s expression. “It’s even more fun to tease you after coming clean about our bond. Now you know that you can never get rid of me.”

“Great,” Yeosang rolled his eyes and tried to look away but suddenly there was a hand on his head turning it back towards Wooyoung.

“Do you think I could make you blush even more?” he asked cunningly and his gaze slipped to his mouth.

Yeosang didn’t wait any longer. He finally let his instincts take over and he leaned in before the other could have done it first.

Wooyoung gave a surprised sound the moment their lips met. It was a soft touch at first, just pressing against each other but soon Yeosang felt Wooyoung’s lower lip drop a little so he could kiss him properly. Their lips started to move against each other while Wooyoung kept his hand on Yeosang’s face, thumb slowly caressing him in a way that made his skin burn everywhere he touched it. Yeosang wanted to do something like that too, he wanted to touch Wooyoung to make him feel as good as he felt but the way the other knew exactly how to wake the butterflies up in his stomach was so overwhelming he couldn’t do much else than kissing him back the best he could.

But soon enough – way sooner than Yeosang wanted it – Wooyoung’s mouth turned into a smile and he pulled back a bit, giggling. It wasn’t clear if he laughed at the way Yeosang tried to reach his lips nevertheless or because he also felt a tad shy about kissing his soulmate for the first time.

“It’s so much better than anything I’ve ever imagined,” he confessed and he moved his hand to stroke a finger on Yeosang’s lips.

“Then why’d you stop?” the blonde asked still under the haze of the kiss. Wooyoung chuckled and bit his lip.

“Were you always this eager?” he teased then pressed a tiny kiss in the corner of the blonde’s mouth. “I just need to clarify one more thing.”

“Which is?”

Wooyoung leaned back a bit more so that it would be easier to look into Yeosang’s eyes. It made the blonde feel empty at first but as soon as his eyes met Wooyoung’s warm ones he felt it easing away.

“Yesterday when I confessed– I didn’t lie, you know,” Wooyoung tilted his head against the tree as he was smiling gently. “I’m in love with you.”

Yeosang felt his breath hitch. The confession made his heart beat faster and it became harder to breathe but at the same time it was all so easy. He felt like it was the first time the fresh air reached his lungs, like hearing the words ‘I’m in love with you’ from Wooyoung’s lips was as essential to survive as the oxygen in the air. It was like he got excited but felt his body relax at the same moment.

And it felt so much better to hear this without thinking about the secrets he had been hiding like he did the day before. It was freeing to know that after everything Wooyoung still loved him, that it didn’t change and didn’t fade. He felt relieved but only until the moment he realized he should say something.

“I– I’m–” he stuttered as he looked away from Wooyoung. It wasn't because he got shy or felt embarrassed, he didn’t even know what to say. He wanted to reciprocate Wooyoung’s feelings but so far he didn’t even have the time to think about it when he had so much going on that worried him more. He knew, it was obvious that he felt something towards the other but he wasn’t sure if it was what people called love.

“You don’t have to force anything,” Wooyoung said, grabbing his hands. Yeosang looked up to meet his understanding eyes and happy smile. “You probably talked more about your feelings today than in your entire life. I know I’m important to you and I’m pretty sure you developed feelings for me too but I don’t need you to say that right now. I can wait until you’re ready to say it, we have the rest of our lives together after all.”

Wooyoung’s words made the weight on his chest a bit lighter but Yeosang still felt a bit uneasy. It wasn’t about the need to say it, he only wanted to say something so Wooyoung could feel the same way about his words so they could share this wonderful easiness that the other made him feel. But he did feel exhausted emotionally and he was grateful for his soulmate to understand him so well.

“Could you kiss me again?” he heard himself saying eventually and Wooyoung moved immediately with a grin on his lips.

“Anytime, handsome,” he answered and grabbed his head a bit more firmly to guide their mouths back together.

This time the kiss was more heated, they didn’t move their lips as carefully as before. Wooyoung wasn’t even in a sitting position but on his knees instead so he was leaning over Yeosang, taking his face between his palms. Yeosang kept his fingers curled around the other’s wrists and when he felt the slightest push against his head he tilted it without hesitation. Wooyoung had a better angle like this and tentatively he ran his tongue against Yeosang’s lips that fell down in that exact moment, giving the green light for Wooyoung to deepen the kiss.

Usually it wouldn’t be something that Yeosang would enjoy doing. Making out in a public park where people came to walk dogs, to play with their children or to skate was far from Yeosang’s comfort zone. Even so he couldn’t find himself to care when Wooyoung’s tongue slided against his in a way that made his stomach clench and his toes curl.

They separated only when Yeosang heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, guys, I found him,” Woonhak, the youngest of the skater boys shouted towards the skatepark. When Yeosang pushed Wooyoung off gently and looked up with wide, glassy eyes he saw him smirk. The blonde felt heat creeping up his neck immediately but before he could have said something that might have made the situation less embarrassing Woonhak was already on his way back to the others who apparently have already arrived. “I told you they were soulmates. Taesan-hyung, you owe me a meal after this!”

*

“It’s date time!” Wooyoung exclaimed barging in Yeosang’s and Jongho’s dorm room.

“Have you heard of knocking?” the younger one mumbled under his nose as he shifted in his chair, as he was in the middle of a game. “I almost got hit because of you.”

“Sorry, Jongho-yah,” he said but it didn’t sound very apologetic.

“What are you talking about, anyway?” Yeosang asked as he finished writing down something in his notebook that was on the desk in front of him. “We’re going to the library.”

“Exactly,” Wooyoung said and stepped behind the blonde to give him a little massage on his shoulders while the other finished whatever he was studying. “A study date.”

“It’s not a study date,” Yeosang insisted, then he closed his notebook and turned around. “It’s a meeting to finish up the group project.”

“It’s practically a double study date with an additional San, if you think about it.”

“It’s not. It’s serious work to get a good grade. I hope you can adjust your behaviour to that,” the blonde said with a strict look before standing up and reaching for his bag to put his laptop and its charger away.

“Yeah, whatever. Are you ready, though?” he asked, following Yeosang around the room.

He put on a jacket and hung the bag on his shoulders. After getting into his shoes he waved Wooyoung to leave the room and he did it obediently. Saying bye to Jongho Yeosang closed the door behind them.

“Wait,” Wooyoung stopped when Yeosang started walking down the corridor. “I think you forgot something.”

“What?” he asked, turning back and in the next moment he felt Wooyoung’s lips pressing against his in a chaste kiss.

“There. We can go now,” he smirked, then slipped past Yeosang and walked down the corridor. “
Come on, handsome, you don’t want to be late!”

Yeosang rolled his eyes but felt his lips turning into a smile as he followed his soulmate.

It has been a few weeks since they started their relationship. Ever since then there wasn’t a single day they were apart. It was mostly thanks to Wooyoung who went out of his way to meet up with Yeosang, even if it meant missing his classes. He also spent so much time in the coffee shop close to the social sciences faculty that he befriended the baristas, Yeonjun and Soobin. Yeosang slowly felt the line between his life and Wooyoung’s life disappear and merge into ‘their’ life. Wooyoung’s friends became Yeosang’s friends soon enough and Yeosang’s activities became Wooyoung’s activities as well. Even if he was mostly watching rather than doing anything else in the gym or the skatepark, he was present and it was as important to him as it was to Yeosang.

Life with Wooyoung was almost everything Yeosang feared it would be. He barely had free time when he was alone and most of the time when he was with Wooyoung it was loud from yapping and laughing. Whether they were alone or with others, Wooyoung never left him peace. A stolen kiss here, a gentle brush of fingers there and Yeosang’s heartrate was skyrocketing.

The biggest difference between what he imagined and what it turned out to be was that he didn’t mind it one bit. He craved his presence and his attention. Spending time with Wooyoung might not have been peaceful but it put his mind at ease and it was everything he could have asked for.

As they were approaching the university’s biggest library that was accessible for every student from each faculty Wooyoung took his hand in his and walked beside him in a comfortable silence.

“Look at those lovebirds with their fresh soulmate bond,” Mingi said once they caught up to them. He leaned on Yunho’s shoulder as he looked up at him. “I miss those first months.”

Wooyoung’s famous gang became like a second family to Yeosang in the past few weeks. Every time they had a social outing – whether it was a friendly gathering, going to the movies or cheering for Yunho on his dance competition – they invited him as well. The first few times he joined them he was still embarrassed, because he heard from Wooyoung that they knew he was hiding the soulmate bond from Wooyoung, but they were so welcoming that the feeling of embarrassment passed quickly. He was almost as comfortable around them as with Jongho and it became easier and easier to say yes to an invitation.

Once they were inside, they gathered around a table and talked over the main points of the paper in hushed voices. Once they were done they split up the parts and soon all of them were working in silence. Yeosang took on making the presentation for them because that was something no one liked to do and he didn’t have anything against it. He found a fitting theme and was talking with San about his part when Wooyoung came around the table.

Usually they worked together really well – Wooyoung often joined his afternoons spent in the library – but this time the other seemed antsy. He called Yeosang to ask questions he could’ve easily answered for himself, he got up to go somewhere then sat down again and he tried to play footsies with Yeosang who sent him a warning look and bent his legs under his chair.

So Yeosang might have been just a bit annoyed when Wooyoung came around for the umpteenth time.

“There’s something that isn’t clear here,” he showed the screen towards Yeosang in his hand. It was a part that he wrote about scapegoats and it did feel like it was lacking something he should’ve written down.

He frowned as he scrolled a bit between the lines trying to see if he just messed up and wrote it somewhere else instead. He didn’t even notice Wooyoung’s face approaching until he felt his lips on his cheeks.

He grunted disapprovingly and moved away while Wooyoung snickered as he made his way back to the other side of the table with the laptop in his hand.

“At this point I will send my self and peer evaluation back saying ‘Wooyoung was nothing but a distraction the entire time’,” he threatened and looked back at his laptop.

“I know you wouldn’t do that and you know it’s not even true,” Wooyoung grinned as he took a sticky note to write down something.

“That’s actually what I planned writing for Mingi though,” Yunho cut in, looking at his soulmate who glanced up innocently. “He’s practically asking for it when he refuses to button up his shirt properly.”

That made the whole table chuckle and Mingi did one button up rolling his eyes in fake annoyance.

“I’ll go and check if they have the same book you were working with here” Wooyoung said standing up and waving as he moved through the shelves.

Ten minutes passed by with Wooyoung gone and the blonde only realized once he heard his voice.

“Yeosangie,” he said with a tired voice like he was about to give up. “I can’t find that book anywhere.”

“Did you check it in the catalog?” he asked, fingers standing still over the keyboard.

“The catalog?”

Yeosang sighed and pushed back his chair to go to the closest computer where the catalog was opened in the first tab.

“I will look it up for you, can you tell me the author, the title and the year of publishing?”

He told him everything and soon Yeosang had the code that helped finding the book but Wooyoung was helpless even with that so the blonde went to find it himself. He found his soulmate only a shelf away and gave the book in his hands. He moved to get back to the table but Wooyoung was reaching for his wrist and spinned him around to face him before wrapping his arms around his neck and kissing him on the mouth.

Yeosang pushed him away when he tried to deepen the kiss.

“What are you doing?” he asked sternly but regretted his tone immediately when he saw something wasn’t right, Wooyoung’s eyes were missing the mischievous light it always had when he initiated a make-out session in the library – that might have happened more than Yeosang would like to admit.

“I just needed a break,” he admitted quietly.

“Did something happen?”

Wooyoung sighed before answering the question.

“I got the results of a midterm today that was quite important and I thought it went well but apparently I was wrong. It’s not that big of a deal but if I don’t get a good grade on the next one I’ll fail this class.”

Yeosang placed his arms on the other’s back, stroking him gently.

“Do you want me to take control of your studying habits? That might help,” the blonde asked in a joking manner and the way Wooyoung’s face lit up was worth everything.

“Oh, no, please stay away from my studying habits,” he laughed and he pulled Yeosang closer again in a hug. “I just need your support for a minute.”

Yeosang was happy to do that. He got better at it over time and felt more confident in tightening his arms around him and laying his head on Wooyoung’s. He felt the other take a deep breath and let it out slowly while he was thinking about what he could say to make things easier for Wooyoung.

“I love you” he said it out loud for the first time then. He understood his feelings just a week after Wooyoung’s confession but it took him some time to gather up the courage to actually say it. In the past few days he was on the edge of saying it back when Wooyoung said it first but in the end he always backed out. This time however it was one of the most reassuring things he could have said and he wanted to do it for Wooyoung.

The other pulled away only so he could look up. His eyes were sparkling more than ever.

“I love you too,” he said, then his lips turned into the biggest smile. Breaking the eye contact Wooyoung hid his face in Yeosang’s shoulder. “Ah, Yeosangie, how am I supposed to go back to studying after this? You take away my chance to actually get a good grade.” he complained into his shoulder and it made Yeosang chuckle a bit. Wooyoung then looked up and ran his hands up to his hair and tucked on it slightly as he leaned up to get their face in line.

“I don’t think this will help with studying either,” Yeosang mumbled when their breaths mixed up in the small space between them.

“How lucky you’re not in control of my studying habits,” Wooyoung answered cheekily and closed up the gap between them, kissing him hungrily.